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2008-09-04 India-Pakistan
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Pakistan: Reports of Al-Zawahiri escape 'distorted' says security official
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(AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - A top Pakistan security official, Rahman Malik, on Wednesday rejected reports that Al-Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, narrowly escaped capture in the tribal region of Mohmand. Malik told a media conference at Government House in Karachi that reports quoting him had been "distorted".
"Dr Ayman Al-Zawahiri was not in Pakistan and therefore there is no question of his escape during the Bajaur operation and in this connection my statement was distorted," said Malik, the Pakistani premier's advisor on interior affairs.
| "He's, um, somewhere else." |
Asked about Wednesday's assassination attempt on Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani, Malik said he had spoken to the premier and he was alright. He confirmed that three suspects had been arrested and a report on the attack would be released within 24 hours.
Malik also confirmed reports that the the government had suspended its offensive in the troubled Bajaur agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas bordering Afghanistan during Ramadan and noted a fall in attacks. "We have acquired the results from the Bajaur operation and now there is a reduction of suicide attacks by 80 percent," he said.
"We have only suspended the operation to facilitate the return of nearly 500,000 displaced people during the holy month of Ramadan. But let me assure you that if the militants again dared to attack the security forces, they will get a strong response," he maintained.
He said the government's strong stance had delivered results. "For the first time militants are begging for a ceasefire and we have refused. We will confront them by all means unless they surrender to state authorities."
However, Malik said Pakistan's major cities were under heavy surveillance and expressed concern about reports that some Taliban members had cut their hair, trimmed their beards and reached the country's major city centres.
On Tuesday Malik reportedly said his men had come close to arresting al-Zawahiri. But the country's mountainous terrain had enabled al-Zawahiri to slip away, he said. Al-Zawahiri is moving between Pakistan's tribal areas and the Afghan provinces of Kunar and Pakita, Malik said. 
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Posted by Fred 2008-09-04 00:00||
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File under: al-Qaeda
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Posted by 3dc 2008-09-04 00:37||
2008-09-04 00:37||
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Posted by JohnQC 2008-09-04 17:28||
2008-09-04 17:28||
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Posted by JohnQC 2008-09-04 18:08||
2008-09-04 18:08||
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