MARDAN, Pakistan, May 5 (UPI) -- Pakistani agents disguised themselves in burqas to capture al-Qaida organizer Abu Faraj al-Libbi, the BBC said Thursday.
Agents, some of whom wore the all-encompassing robe worn by women in conservative Islamic families, stopped al-Libbi's motorbike and overpowered the driver, then fired some shots when Libbi ran away.
The suspect later emerged from the house where he had sought shelter unarmed and with his "hands up and head slightly bowed," police said.
Pakistan ruled out an immediate turnover to the United States, saying al-Libbi would be interrogated thoroughly first.
The BBC said though it is difficult to confirm whether al-Libbi is indeed the third highest-ranking member of the al-Qaida hierarchy, he was involved in sending messages to cells overseas with instructions to carry out attacks last year.
Al-Libbi was captured Monday. He had been wanted for two attempts on the life of President Pervez Musharaff and is suspected in a number of other bombings.
Pakistani intelligence officials said a number of other al-Qaida suspects had been arrested in the days following al-Libbi's capture.
