Homeland Security

DATE=03/04/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PAKISTAN AL-QAIDA ARREST (L & S)

NUMBER=2-300288

BYLINE=AYAZ GUL

DATELINE=ISLAMABAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Pakistan says the suspected mastermind of the September 11th terrorist attacks has been handed over to the United States (Tuesday) for further interrogation. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad.

TEXT: Pakistani officials say the alleged al-Qaida leader, Kuwaiti-born Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and his colleague from Somalia have been flown to a U-S detention center in neighboring Afghanistan. U-S officials have yet to comment on the Pakistani statement.

The two suspected terrorists were detained at a house near the Pakistani capital on Saturday along with a local man.

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed is Pakistan's federal information minister.

/// AHMED ACT IN URDU, FADE UNDER ///

Mr. Rashid tells V-O-A that Pakistan turned over al-Qaida suspects Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and his colleague to U-S custody after completing its own investigation.

He says the Pakistani detainee, Ahmed Qadoos, is still in the country and he will be tried by a local court for links with the al-Qaida terrorist network.

/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///

Mr. Qadoos is the son of an activist in Pakistan's largest right-wing religious party, Jamaat-e-Islami.

U-S officials say the arrest of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed is an important victory against terrorism.

He is believed to be the terror network's operational commander and the architect of the September 11th deadly attacks on New York and Washington. The United States was offering up to 25 million dollars for information leading to his arrest.

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was believed to be planning fresh terror strikes against American and European targets.

U-S officials say his arrest will help prevent those attacks and could lead to the capture of al-Qaida's chief, Osama bin Laden. (SIGNED)

NEB/HK/AG/KPD