Posted on 06/06/2005 9:23:22 AM PDT by dead
ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Key US ally Pakistan has handed over alleged top Al-Qaeda operative Abu Faraj al-Libbi to Washington after he gave information on terror cells in other countries, officials and security sources said.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Jalil Abbas Jilani confirmed a reported statement by Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf in a United Arab Emirates newspaper on Monday that the terror network's alleged number three had been deported.
"The president made a statement to this effect. The president's statement was self-explanatory," Jilani told a weekly news conference in Islamabad. He gave no further details.
Al-Libbi, who was arrested last month, is the alleged mastermind of two attempts on Musharraf's life in December 2003, and a bid to assassinate Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz before he assumed office last year.
"Yes, we turned al-Libbi over to the United States recently. We don't want people like him in our country," military ruler Musharraf was quoted as saying in the Abu Dhabi daily Al-Ittihad.
Security officials told AFP on condition of anonymity that al-Libbi was flown out of Pakistan and given to US custody last Wednesday, the day after an interview with Musharraf was broadcast in which he said Pakistan would do so.
They said al-Libbi was Al-Qaeda's external operations chief, based in Pakistan, and had provided details on other suspects in the Middle East which led to a number of arrests.
"He provided several leads to the interrogators here that led to the disclosure of some sleeper cells in some Arab countries," one of the security officials said.
"He was of more interest because of the external links so they handed him over."
Around two dozen people had also been arrested in Pakistan after al-Libbi's capture in the northwestern city of Mardan on May 2, the officials added.
Musharraf said in a CNN interview on Tuesday that Pakistan was "obviously" going to deport al-Libbi and had "extracted all the information and intelligence from him".
He contradicted earlier statements by Pakistani officials that al-Libbi would be tried in Pakistan.
Asked why Pakistan was deporting al-Libbi to the United States even though the Al-Qaeda operative was involved on two assassination attempts on him, Musharraf said there were "bigger issues" involved.
In December 2003 militants blew up a road bridge moments after Musharraf passed and two weeks later suicide car bombers ploughed into his motorcade, killing 15 people.
However, security officials added that there was still a possibility al-Libbi could be returned to Pakistani custody at a later date.
Pakistan says it has so far rounded up about 700 Al-Qaeda suspects, including alleged top operatives, both in army searches of lawless tribal border areas and other operations in major cities.
Most of the detained terror suspects have been handed over to US custody, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, al-Libbi's alleged predecessor as Al-Qaeda number three and the self-proclaimed architect of the September 11 attacks.
OMG. I've seen poodles with those stains under their eyes, but never a human. I guess this guy is a dog.
So does dude have a skin pigmentation condition, or did the Pakistanis just beat the snot out of him before putting him on Con Air flight 666 to Gitmo?
}:-)4
When I see pictures like that, I'm more and more convinced: Islamic terrorism is all about getting pretty women in the afterlife, 'cause they haven't got a prayer of getting any here.
What too much Starbucks will do to a person.
Is this dude related to Michael Jackson?
A public beheading is in order. Now on to bin Laden.
Regardless of whether or not he blabbed on anyone, he's now officially been outed as a rat and won't be welcome back home amongst his own kind anymore. He might as well cough up any remaining info he might have.
That boy fell off the ugly tree, and hit every branch on the way down. - Looks like he got knocked around a bit.
Seriously, I hope he ain't a going to Gitmo anytime soon.
Three hots and a cot, along with free Korans and the ACLU.
But I have a feeling that almost everything that he knows is now known by us, as well.
Look for Al-Qaeda to post another opening for #3 in the want ads.
"ugliest man ever cries coffee tears"
Too damned funny! Must be that Islamic coffee. I hear it has a really nasty, angry bite to it.
Warning to would-be terrorists: This is one of the 70 virgins you will have sex with in paradise.
Hang 'em High ~ Bump!
His mascara is running.
No wonder they blow themselves up! Can't score here so they are just dying to get the free virgins.
{[**shudder**]}
He looks like the bad disguise used in "Team America."
I'm sure he will be greatly relived by the soft touch he will get here in comparison to what he was getting in Pakistan
I am sure this guy is looking forward to the nutirionally-balanced meals, the Quranic studies, and the prayer mats offered to him at Gitmo...
And, no, I am not being sarcastic. I am sure that leaving Pakistan for Gitmo was this guy's most ardent wish. I just hope he talked plenty in Pakistan at least.
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