Top militant dies in Kuwait jail

Kuwaiti police have launched a crackdown on militants

The alleged leader of a cell accused of plots to kidnap US soldiers and other Westerners in Kuwait has died in custody, Kuwaiti officials say.

Amer Khlaif al-Enezi died on Tuesday of heart failure, interior ministry officials said.

He was arrested on 31 January in a raid on a house, south of Kuwait City.

Kuwait is a major ally of Washington but militants widely oppose the US military presence in their country.

Enezi, who was believed to be in his 30s, was seized along with five of his supporters after a nine-hour gun battle with security forces in the al-Qurain area, south of the capital.

'Trouble breathing'

Four gunmen were reported to have been killed in that exchange.

The Kuwaiti newspaper al-Qabas said on its website that Enezi died after suffering a heart attack.

It said prosecutors had questioned him before he developed health problems and was examined by doctors.

The state-owned Kuwait News Agency said Enezi was "moved to the Armed Forces Hospital after he had trouble breathing", and he died there.

Enezi had been a preacher at a mosque in Jahra, 40km (25 miles) north-west of Kuwait City, until he was dismissed a few months ago by the ministry of Islamic affairs because of his "extremist views", the news agency AFP reported.

Enezi's younger brother and alleged right-hand man, Nasser, was reportedly killed on 30 January during a battle with security forces.

Crackdown

According to Kuwaiti media reports, Enezi confessed during interrogation that his group had links with al-Qaeda.

He allegedly admitted to a plot to kidnap US soldiers and other Westerners and film their murders, and to attack US military convoys on their way to Iraq.

Kuwait has launched a campaign against those it suspects of plans to attack state security or Western interests.

At least eight alleged militants have been killed and as many as 25 Kuwaiti and Saudi suspects arrested in recent weeks.

Four police officers have died and 10 others have been wounded.