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Armed US drones have been deployed to target radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki,one of the world's most wanted Islamist terrorists, following reports that he was involved in last week's failed suicide bomb attack against Britain 's ambassador to Yemen. A Sunday Telegraph said US President Barack Obama has authorised al-Awlaki's assassination after he was also linked to last year's Fort Hood massacre and the attempt in December to blow up a Detroit-bound jet by a man wearing explosives in his underpants. Senior US intelligence officials say they have stepped up their efforts to target al-Awlaki following new evidence that the American-born cleric is taking an increasingly operational role in the operation of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the terror group held responsible for the failed suicide bomb attack against Tim Torlot, 52, the UK envoy to Yemen. Torlot was unhurt in the attack, which left the bomber dead and three others injured, and was said to be recovering from the experience at the ambassador's official residence. Al-Awlaki, who is regarded as one of al-Qaeda's most inspirational preachers and whose sermons regularly appear on radical Islamist websites, came to prominence last year after it emerged he had communicated extensively by e-mail with Major Nidal Hassan, the army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas.

Obama orders deployment of US drones to target Yemeni terrorist