Us drone "Al-Qaeda missed head."

Anwar al-Awlaki heads more active the world US attack drone to the Yemen targeted al-Qaida cell, but did not kill one of the most influential figures of al-Qaeda, reports say.

The radical Yemeni cleric U.S. - born Anwar al-Awlaki is the Chief of al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula.

Two brothers believed to be responsible for al-Qaeda Palermo died in a strike of drone Yemen South Thursday, Yemeni authorities said.

The attack came only days after al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan by the US Navy Seals.

The Pentagon refused to comment on reports that Anwar al-Awlaki was specifically targeted to the Yemen.

According to the Ministry of defence of the Yemen, the missile fired by the drone struck a car in Shabwa province, carrying two brothers identified the Yemeni as Musa representatives ' id and Abdullah Mubarak.

But reports from Washington suggested now American commanders believed that they had a more valuable target of al-Qaida in focus.

"We were hoping it was him," an anonymous U.S. official told CBS News.

The reported attempt to kill Mr. Awlaki seems to be the first known U.S. military strike at the Yemen since May 2010 when missiles killed by mistake one of the envoys of Mr. Saleh.

In September, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the country stated that these strikes without a driver had been suspended.

The report comes as Yemen continue to take the streets to demand that Ali Abdullah Saleh, President for 30 years, resign.

Links to attackers

According to the Wall Street Journal, there are several attempts to target Mr. Awlaki Thursday.

He escaped an initial attack of three rockets on a vehicle in which he was travelling and then swapped cars with two brothers, who were killed in a second strike by a single drone, said the newspaper.

Washington considers the branch based in the al-Qaida cell of more active terror of the world Yemen.

Estimated to have about 300 fighters in the Yemeni, grouped bastions around the mountain ranges where the central Government has little reach.

The group is said to have inspired attacks by Muslims in the territory of the United States and plots to move explosives aboard planes to the United States.

Some analysts are convinced that, after the death of bin Laden, Mr. Awlaki represents the most serious threat.

A member of the American clergy of Yemeni origin, he was placed on a blacklist of terrorism in July 2010 and had imposed financial sanctions on him.

American officials say Mr. Awlaki helped recruit Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian accused of attempting to blow up an airliner as it flew into Detroit on December 25, 2009.

Maj. Nidal Hasan, psychiatrist accused of killing 13 comrades in the Fort Hood shooting in 2009, the army asked religious Council Mr. Awlaki and saw to preach in the State of Virginia, U.S. in 2001, American officials say.

A recognized student guilty of attempted murder MP British Stephen Timms in London would also have been inspired by Mr. Awlaki online sermons.