Former Gitmo detainee linked to al-Qaeda killed by NATO

Melma was described as a key affiliate of the al-Qaeda network in contact with senior members in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Troops surrounded Melmas house in Jalalabad city on Friday night and shot him dead when he emerged from the building holding an AK-47 assault rifle.

After the fall of the Taliban,Melma,49,was given the rank of brigadier general and placed in charge of 600 border security troops in Kunar province,according to his military file. He was captured in August 2002 while attending a meeting with US military officials in Asadabad and transferred to Guantanamo Bay in October. He was suspected of helping carry out rocket attacks against US troops. He was sent back to Afghanistan in September 2007.