Libbi’s in the can. From AP, with thanks to all who sent this in:
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Authorities arrested al-Qaida’s No. 3 commander, who was a close associate of Osama bin Laden and had a $10 million bounty on his head, and said today they now were “on the right track” to catch the fugitive terrorist leader.
Abu Farraj al-Libbi, who allegedly orchestrated two assassination attempts against President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, was arrested after a firefight on the outskirts of Mardan, 30 miles north of Peshawar, capital of the deeply conservative North West Frontier Province, the government and security officials said.
Al-Libbi, a native of Libya who authorities say is a close associate of bin Laden, was arrested earlier this week, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told The Associated Press.
“This is a very important day for us,” Ahmed said. “This arrest gives us a lot of tips, and I can only say that our security agencies are on the right track” in the hunt for bin Laden, Ahmed said.