Pakistan captures key suspect in 1998 US embassy bombings in Africa

Pakistani Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat said on Thursday that Pakistan has captured Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, an al-Qaeda suspect in connection with US embassy bombings in Africa.

Pakistan has arrested Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, a Tanzanian al-Qaida suspect with a 5-million-dollar reward on his head in connection with the dual 1998 bombings at US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the interior minister said Friday.

Ghailani, who is on the FBI's most wanted list, was captured on Sunday after a 12-hour exchange of fire in the eastern industrial city of Gujrat along with at least 15 others, Hayyat told Pakistan's Geo television network.

"He was arrested a few days ago in an operation by security agencies in Gujrat,'' Hayyat said. "He was among the foreigners arrested in that operation.''

Ghailani is under indictment in the United States for the bombings, which killed more than 200 people, including 12 Americans.

According to the Pakistani interior minister, the suspect s being held at an undisclosed location in Pakistan, but might be turned over to US authorities after investigations are completed.