Al-Libbi being questioned by Pakistani security officials

Al-Qaida’s reputed No. 3 Abu Farraj al-Libbi stayed silent for hours following his capture this week before confessing his identity to interrogators whose initial results have been forwarded to the US, an intelligence official said today.

Al-Libbi was detained on Monday after a firefight with security forces in northwestern Pakistan. US President George Bush hailed the arrest as a victory that removes a key enemy, and jubilant Pakistani officials said the capture will boost the hunt for Osama bin Laden.