Capture of Osama now 'a step closer'

SECURITY officials who arrested al-Qaida's number three commander said yesterday that they were "on the right track" to catch Osama bin Laden himself.

Abu Faraj al-Libbi, who was arrested on Monday after a fierce gunbattle with Pakistani commandos on the outskirts of Mardan, north-east of Peshawar.

A US counterterrorism official said that al-Libbi, a Libyan who authorities believe masterminded two attempts to assassinate Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, was the most senior operational commander in al-Qaida behind only bin Laden and his top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.