Agence France Presse

Kuala Lumpur, May 6:

The interrogation of a captured Libyan accused of being number three in Al-Qaeda’s hierarchy is “proceeding well” and follow-up action is under way, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said today.

The capture of Abu Faraj al-Libbi by Pakistani forces in the tribal area of northern Waziristan on Monday is seen as a major coup against the network, and security officials hope he can put them on the trail of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Asked whether al-Libbi was cooperating with interrogators, Aziz told a small group of journalists in an interview in Malaysia: “I know that interrogations are going on and are proceeding well. Certainly Libbi was a senior member of Al-Qaeda so after whatever information we get from interrogating him we will take whatever action is necessary to pick up more people,” Aziz said.

Pakistan’s top government spokesman today confirmed that authorities have made several arrests of alleged terrorists since the prize capture this week of al-Libbi. However, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed declined to disclose details.

“In fact, action is being taken as we speak, because based on information the security agencies move and pick up others,” Aziz said, without elaborating.

Asked whether information on bin Laden’s whereabouts could be expected, Aziz said: “I have no idea. The investigators are at work and whatever they find out we will certainly

share with all our friends. The Pakistani government is determined to use all its resources to go after people who happen to be involved in such activities and we are very hopeful that this latest arrest will also help make peace and eliminate terrorism in the whole world.”

In Washington, a top US military official said yesterday that bin Laden should worry that the capture of al-Libbi, believed to be his operations chief, will hasten his own death or capture. “I think that bin Laden should be very concerned that we are that much closer to him and his compatriots, again, wherever they are,” said Lieutenant General James Conway, operations director of the military’s Joint Staff. Asked whether al-Libbi would be handed to the US, Aziz said: “I think this is premature.”