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US commando raids: Kerry defends al-Liby capture | US commando raids: Kerry defends al-Liby capture |
(34 minutes later) | |
US Secretary of State John Kerry has defended the capture of an alleged al-Qaeda leader, Anas al-Liby, on Saturday as a "legal and appropriate target". | US Secretary of State John Kerry has defended the capture of an alleged al-Qaeda leader, Anas al-Liby, on Saturday as a "legal and appropriate target". |
He is a suspected mastermind of the 1998 US embassy attacks in Africa. | He is a suspected mastermind of the 1998 US embassy attacks in Africa. |
His son, Abdullah al-Raghie, said his father had been seized by masked gunmen and that some of them were Libyans. | His son, Abdullah al-Raghie, said his father had been seized by masked gunmen and that some of them were Libyans. |
Mr Kerry's comments come after Libya called on the US to explain the special forces raid on its territory, one of two by US commandos in Africa Saturday. | Mr Kerry's comments come after Libya called on the US to explain the special forces raid on its territory, one of two by US commandos in Africa Saturday. |
Mr Kerry said Mr Liby would face justice in a court of law. | Mr Kerry said Mr Liby would face justice in a court of law. |
"With respect to Abu Anas al-Liby, he is a key al-Qaeda figure, and he is a legal and an appropriate target for the US military," Mr Kerry told reporters on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Indonesia. | "With respect to Abu Anas al-Liby, he is a key al-Qaeda figure, and he is a legal and an appropriate target for the US military," Mr Kerry told reporters on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (Apec) summit in Indonesia. |
Libyan Prime minister Ali Zeidan's office said he had asked for clarification on the raid and stressed Libya was "keen on prosecuting any Libyan citizen inside Libya". | Libyan Prime minister Ali Zeidan's office said he had asked for clarification on the raid and stressed Libya was "keen on prosecuting any Libyan citizen inside Libya". |
Citing surveillance camera footage, Mr Liby's son, Abdullah al-Raghie, said his father was seized in Tripoli early on Saturday by masked gunmen armed with pistols, as he was parking outside his house. | Citing surveillance camera footage, Mr Liby's son, Abdullah al-Raghie, said his father was seized in Tripoli early on Saturday by masked gunmen armed with pistols, as he was parking outside his house. |
He said that those he could see taking his father looked Libyan and spoke a Libyan dialect. | He said that those he could see taking his father looked Libyan and spoke a Libyan dialect. |
He claims the Libyan government was implicated in his father's disappearance - a claim Tripoli denies. | He claims the Libyan government was implicated in his father's disappearance - a claim Tripoli denies. |
On Saturday, US commandos also carried out a raid in southern Somalia, but failed to capture their target. | On Saturday, US commandos also carried out a raid in southern Somalia, but failed to capture their target. |
The US Navy Seals' seaborne raid was believed to have focused on a leader of the al-Shabab militant group. | The US Navy Seals' seaborne raid was believed to have focused on a leader of the al-Shabab militant group. |
Al-Shabab has said it carried out last month's attack on the Westgate shopping centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, leaving at least 67 people dead. | Al-Shabab has said it carried out last month's attack on the Westgate shopping centre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, leaving at least 67 people dead. |
A US official speaking on the condition of anonymity later identified the militant as Ikrima - a foreign fighter commander for al-Shabab in Somalia, Reuters reports. | |
However, Washington has not formally named the intended target. | |
When asked on Sunday whether Somalia had been aware of the raid, Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid said: "Our co-operation with international partners on fighting against terrorism is not a secret." | |
Anas al-Liby, 49, is believed to have been one of the masterminds behind the 1998 US embassy attacks, which killed more than 220 people in Kenya and Tanzania. | Anas al-Liby, 49, is believed to have been one of the masterminds behind the 1998 US embassy attacks, which killed more than 220 people in Kenya and Tanzania. |
He has been indicted in a New York court in connection with the attacks. | He has been indicted in a New York court in connection with the attacks. |
Liby - whose real name is Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai - has been on the FBI's most wanted list for more than a decade with a $5m (£3.1m) bounty on his head. | Liby - whose real name is Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai - has been on the FBI's most wanted list for more than a decade with a $5m (£3.1m) bounty on his head. |
His brother, Nabih, on Sunday told reporters his brother was innocent, describing the US operation as an "act of piracy". | His brother, Nabih, on Sunday told reporters his brother was innocent, describing the US operation as an "act of piracy". |
Mr Kerry said the operations in Libya and Somalia showed that the US would never stop "in its effort to hold those accountable who conduct acts of terror". | Mr Kerry said the operations in Libya and Somalia showed that the US would never stop "in its effort to hold those accountable who conduct acts of terror". |