LOC21:27
18:27 GMT
ISLAMABAD, July 9 (KUNA) -- Pakistani law-enforcement agencies (LEA) have
reportedly re-arrested more than 20 former Guantanamo Bay prisoners and are
interrogating them for their links with militant and religious groups, said
sources on Saturday.
The law-enforcers have arrested about twenty-one such prisoners from
different areas of northern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, LEA sources told
KUNA. When contacted interior ministry sources also confirmed the report. They
said the former Gitmo prisoners were arrested after reports that they have
re-established links with militants and religiously-extremist groups.
There were also some reports that they were involved in terrorist
activities in the country, said sources, adding, they will also help trace
hideouts of Al-Qaeda commanders and main leaders. Sources said that the
arrested militants are closely linked to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The report of arrests came as US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta in Kabul
said that Ayman Al-Zawahri, the new Al Qaeda chief, is living in Pakistan's
bordering tribal belt. (End)
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KUNA 092127 Jul 11NNNN