Muslim Sheik blamed for Pearl kidnapping

Police in Pakistan believe they now know the identity of the men who abducted US journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi on January 23.

A spokesman refused to name the suspects, but the US government claimed they are linked to Sheik Omar Saeed.

Saeed was one of three men freed by India in December 1999 as part of a ransom package demanded by the hijackers of an Indian Airlines plane.

The hijackers were allegedly acting in support of Islamic militants fighting against Indian rule in the mainly Muslim Kashmir province.

The US State Department said Pearl, who wrote for the Wall Street Journal, was attempting to arrange a meeting with Saeed when he was kidnapped.