Egypt arrests man suspected of being al Qaeda’s number 3
Man wanted by US detained upon arrival from Pakistan, claims mistaken identity
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CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian named by the United States as one of al-Qaeda’s top figures was arrested in Cairo on Wednesday, but he has denied the link and says it was a case of mistaken identity.
Security and airport officials say Mohammed Ibrahim Makkawi was arrested on his arrival from Pakistan and was taken for questioning.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Makkawi said he was not the senior al-Qaeda leader known as Saif al-Adel and that he had had nothing to do with the terror group since 1989.
The US has listed the name Mohammed Ibrahim Makkawi as the real name of Saif al-Adel, a pseudonym that means “sword of justice.” But former militants who know both men have previously said they are two different people and the US identification is incorrect.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
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