| The United States captured a top operative of the al-Qaida network sometime last week, NBC News has learned. However, officials have declined to give any details on the person, other than to confirm that he is a senior member of the group, which is blamed for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Sources told Reuters that the captive was one of the top two dozen al-Qaida leaders sought by the United States. There were no details available on the alleged suspectâs age, involvement in terrorism or his whereabouts. But it was not top lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahiri, operational leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, nor Osama bin Ladenâs sons, sources said. One official told NBC there had been âa complicationâ that has prevented the Bush administration from identifying the person. |