US confirms capture of al-Qaida boss

The White House has confirmed that troops have captured one of the key members of al-Qaida.

Officials said the capture of Abu Zubaydah was a "very serious blow" to the terrorist network.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Zubaydah was an operational planner and key recruiter for al-Qaida and a member of Osama bin Laden's inner circle.

He said: "Al-Qaida has many tentacles, but one of them was cut off. He will be interrogated about his knowledge of ongoing plans to conduct terrorist activities. This represents a very serious blow to al-Qaida."

The US believes Zubaydah can identify names, faces and locations of al-Qaida operatives the world over and may also know where bin Laden is hiding.

Stan Bedlington, a former senior terrorism analyst with the CIA, called Zubaydah's capture a major victory.

He said: "Osama bin Laden is a master planner. He must have made some contingency plans (for a major US military pursuit).

"If Abu Zubaydah was privy to that planning, then obviously he can tell us a lot, possibly where Osama bin Laden would go."

Pakistani authorities, along with the CIA and FBI, captured Zubaydah in a raid at a compound in Faisalabad. Zubaydah was shot three times trying to escape but is expected to survive.

He is in US custody but it remains unclear whether he remains in Pakistan, is among 20 suspects to be sent to the Camp X-Ray at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, or will be transported to a separate location.