A Moroccan Islamic militant who was reported yesterday to have been killed in fierce fighting in Saudi Arabia was one of the original founders of al-Qaeda's branch in the kingdom, sent there by terror chief Osama bin Laden to build the network, former militants said. Kareem Altohami al-Mojati was No 4 on Saudi Arabia's list of 26 most wanted al-Qaeda-linked terror suspects, issued in December 2003.Al-Mojati was also wanted in his home country, where he is suspected of helping plan the May 16, 2003 suicide bombings in Casablanca that killed 33 bystanders and 12 suicide bombers. Saudi security officials said al-Mojati was killed along with 13 other militants in a three-day gunbattle with special forces that ended last night in the central Saudi town of Rass. Six other militants were captured. Another of the militants slain in the fight, Saud Homood Obaid al-Otaibi, was a Saudi believed to be one of the top figures in al-Qaeda's branch in Saudi Arabia. Last year, he purportedly posted an Internet statement rejecting an amnesty offered by Saudi ruler King Fahd who promised militants that their lives would be spared if they surrendered.