French al-Qaida militant captured in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: A top French al-Qaida terrorist linked to one of the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks has been arrested by Pakistani security agencies along the country's border with Iran. Naamen Maziche of French origin, who was described by the state-run media as a "prominent operative of al-Qaida responsible for external operations", was captured in a raid near the border with Iran, officials said without disclosing when the incident had taken place. Maziche, CNN reported had been found to have links with Mohammad Atta, who piloted an American flight into the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001. The French al-Qaida operative, Pakistani officials said was detained following disclosures by Younis al-Mauritani, another top al-Qaida militant captured last year. Al-Mauritani had been appointed by Osama bin Laden as commander of operations in Africa. He was on a list of "most wanted persons". Some media reports described Maziche as an al-Qaida operative with links to European jihadi groups. Al-Mauritan and three of his associates were arrested by Pakistani security agencies in the southwestern city of Quetta last year.After al-Mauritani's arrest, Maziche moved to Iran, the reports said.Al-Mauritani had reportedly told interrogators that Maziche had moved to Iran with some of his associates en route to Africa.Pakistani agencies are now interrogating Maziche.