Al-Qaeda names its new leader

Saif al-Adel

Extremist group Al-Qaeda has reportedly chosen a former Egyptian Special Forces officer as acting leader following the death of Osama bin Laden earlier this month.

Saif al-Adel, a top al-Qaeda strategist and senior military leader, has been named as "caretaker" chief of the group, CNN reported.

The decision to choose Adel, also known as Muhamad Ibrahim Makkawi, came as militants grew increasingly restless over the lack of an official leader to replace bin Laden, who was killed in a dramatic US commando raid deep in Pakistan on May 2.

The appointment of Adel on a temporary basis may be a way for the group to measure the reaction to having someone outside the Muslim holy region of the Arabian Peninsula leading Al-Qaeda.