US forces have captured Abu Anas al-Libi, a long-sought Al-Qaeda operative indicted in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, an official said Saturday.
It came as US forces staged a seperate pre-dawn raid on an al-Shabab leader in Somalia, as the US demonstrated its military muscle in two corners of the African continent.
The operation to capture the suspect in Libya, known as Abu Anas al-Libi, took place with the knowledge of the Libyan government, a US official told CNN.
"As the result of a US counterterrorism operation, Abu Anas al-Libi is currently lawfully detained by the US military in a secure location outside of Libya," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.
In Tripoli, a source close to Libi told AFP he had been "kidnapped close to his home after dawn prayers by a group of armed men."
US forces staged another predawn raid against a senior Shebab militant leader in Somalia though it was unclear whether he was killed or captured, officials said Saturday.
"I can confirm that yesterday, October 4, US military personnel were involved in a counterterrorism operation against a known Shebab terrorist," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.
A US official said the operation in Somalia sought to capture a "high-value" Shebab leader, and that no US personnel were injured or killed.
The operation marked the most significant US assault in Somalia since commandos killed key Al-Qaeda operative Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan in the same area four years ago.
It followed an attack by Shebab gunmen last month on the upscale Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi that left 67 people dead during a four-day siege.
AL-LIBI CAPTURED
Libyan security services said they were unaware of any kidnapping or arrest of the man.
The US government had put a reward of up to $5 million on Libi, who is on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list and was born under the name Nazih Abdul Hamed Al-Raghie.
He was indicted in the US District Court in New York for allegedly playing a key role in the August 7, 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi.
The bombings left more than 200 people dead.
His capture ends a 15-year manhunt for a key Al-Qaeda operative.
It also paves the way for Libi, 49, to be brought to the United States to face trial.
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