Escapee from U.S. base was al-Qaida leader

KABUL, Afghanistan, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Security has been tightened at a U.S. military detention facility in Afghanistan after an escapee was named as a suspected al-Qaida leader in Southeast Asia.

Omar al-Farouq, who escaped with three other prisoners from the Bagram military base in July, was considered one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants until Indonesian authorities captured him in 2002 and turned him over to U.S. authorities, Ireland On-Line reported Wednesday.

At the time of the escape, al-Farouq was identified by an alias. Only on Tuesday did the U.S. military confirm his identify.

"There were shortcomings identified in the physical security of the facility that have been corrected," said a statement read by military spokesman Lt. Col. Jerry O'Hara. "Physical security upgrades include improvements to an external door and holding cells."

A U.S. military statement issued in August said "the guards and supervisors did not follow standard operating procedures" on the night the breakout occurred. "These failures led to the escape of the four detainees on 10 July."

Military officials have declined to elaborate on how the men escaped.