M A I N   N E W S

Pakistan names Al-Qaida suspect 

Islamabad, August 11
Pakistan today named British national Rashid Rauf, who was arrested here, as a “key person” in the terror plot targeting US-bound airliners from Britain and claimed that there was an Al Qaida connection in the conspiracy.

“Acting on the information earlier received from the United Kingdom, arrests were made in Pakistan which triggered arrests on the nights between August 9 and 10, 2006 in the United Kingdom. A key person arrested is British national Rashid Rauf. There are indications of Afghanistan-based Al-Qaida connection,” a Foreign Office statement said.

LONDON: Amin Asmin Tariq, who is among the 24 persons arrested over the alleged terror plot to blow up US-bound planes, is said to be an employee of a private Indian air carrier.

The airlines here declined to comment when asked if Tariq, 23, was their employee. Meanwhile, Britain on Friday froze the assets of 19 of the 24 persons arrested in this connection. — Agencies