Dozens arrested in followup to capture of Al-Qaeda No.3

Pakistani security forces have rounded more than two-dozen Al-Qaeda suspects after arresting Abu Farraj Farj Al Libbi, who is believed to be the Number 3 figure of Al-Qaeda.

"Raids are being carried out in several cities after Abu Farraj Farj Al Libbi's interrogation," the local news paper Daily Times Friday quoted a Pakistani intelligence official as saying.

In swoops in two provincial capital cities of Lahore and Peshawar, more than two-dozen other Al-Qaeda suspects were netted, the official said.

"In one raid last night, in Lahore, six men and two women were arrested," said the official, adding that automatic rifles and more than three-dozen hand grenades were seized.

Intelligence officials said Al Libbi, who US counter-terrorism agents say became Al-Qaeda's third-most important figure two years ago, could provide clues to the whereabouts of Bin Laden and has deputy Ayman al-Zawahri.

An senior Pakistani intelligence official confirmed on Thursday that interrogators questioning Al Libbi have been repeating the same two questions over and over again: "Where is Bin Laden?" and "What were your plans?"

However, some officials doubted whether his arrest would have been trumpeted if security forces were hot on the trail of the world's most wanted man.

Source: Xinhua