WASHINGTON - The White House on Tuesday described the death of al-Qaida deputy leader Abu Yahya al-Libi as a "major blow" to the militant group and said there was no clear successor to take over his role.White House spokesman Jay Carney, citing US intelligence sources, said Libi was al-Qaida's "general manager" responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations in the tribal areas of Pakistan, and managing relations with affiliates."We have confirmation of his death," Carney told a news briefing, declining to say where or how the network's deputy leader died. "There is now no clear successor to take on the breadth of his responsibilities," he said.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)