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Six More al-Qaida Suspects Detained in Pakistan

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Authorities in Pakistan are said to have detained six more suspected militants linked to the al-Qaida terrorist network hiding in the country.

Pakistani intelligence sources tell VOA the six alleged terrorists were picked up Sunday in different operations in central Punjab province.

They said the arrests were made possible by information gathered since the detention of a suspected al-Qaida leader, Yassir al-Jazeeri on Saturday. The Moroccan national is believed to be al-Qaida's communications and logistics expert.

Pakistani and U.S. agents are currently questioning him at an unknown location in Pakistan.

Sources involved in the interrogation said that those detained on Sunday include three Afghans, a Qatari national and Mr. al-Jazeeri's brother-in-law. There has been no official announcement of the latest arrests.

The intelligence sources say investigators believe that Yassir al-Jazeeri played a role in disseminating audio and video tapes of al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden to the media. But this could not be independently confirmed.

In recent days, authorities in Pakistan have made significant gains in their hunt for al-Qaida fugitives hiding in the country.

Experts from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation are providing intelligence and technical assistance to Pakistan to track down these militants.

Early this month, al-Qaida's operational commander Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was arrested in the garrison town of Rawalpindi, just outside the Pakistani capital. He is now in U.S. custody. The United States believes Mr. Mohammed planned the September 11, 2001 deadly attacks on New York and Washington.

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