[USATODAY] More than a year after his dramatic capture in Libya, an accused al-Qaeda operative charged in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Africa died Friday in federal custody after a long illness.Federal prosecutors in New York confirmed the death of Abu Anas al-Libi, 50, in a brief letter Saturday to U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. His trial had been set to start Jan. 12.
Al-Libi was taken to a New York area hospital Wednesday "due to sudden complications arising out of his long-standing medical problems,'' U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara wrote. The medical problems were related to liver surgery.
"Despite the care provided at the hospital, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and al-Libi passed away yesterday evening,'' Bharara's letter said.
Bharara informed Kaplan that the suspect's attorney, Bernard Kleinman, and a local Imam was with al-Libi throughout the day. Kleinman was not immediately available for comment Saturday morning.
On Saturday, his wife, who asked to be identified as Um Abdullah, told The Associated Press that her husband's capture and detention worsened his ailments, including hepatitis C, leading to his death.
"I accuse the American government of kidnapping, mistreating and killing an innocent man. He did nothing," Um Abdullah said.
Al-Libi's wife told the Associated Press that her husband underwent liver surgery three weeks ago, went into a coma and was moved prematurely back to prison where he suffered complications.