Pakistan captures spokesman for Baitullah Mehsud

By MUNIR AHMAD, Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD – Security forces have captured the Pakistani Taliban's top spokesman in an operation near the Afghan border, intelligence officials said Tuesday.

The seizure of Mauvi Omar, a high-profile figure in the Taliban, was the latest blow to the militants after the reported death of top leader Baitullah Mehsud in a U.S. missile strike Aug. 5 and Monday's capture of another leading commander.

Three intelligence officials said Tuesday that Omar was seized in a village in the Mohmand tribal region Monday night while he was traveling in a car with two associates to South Waziristan, a Taliban stronghold.

Local tribal elders assisted troops in locating Omar in the village of Khawazeo, the intelligence officials said. Pakistan army or government spokesmen were not immediately available for comments.

As the official spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, Omar frequently called journalists to claim responsibility for terrorist attacks in Pakistan.

The intelligence officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media, said Omar's arrest would likely be publicly announced later Tuesday.

Omar's capture was the second high-profile arrest of a senior Taliban figure this week.

On Monday night, police said they arrested a militant commander and close Mehsud aide who was being treated in a private hospital in Islamabad, the capital.

Militant commander Qari Saifullah, who also has links to al-Qaida terrorists, told police he had been wounded in an American missile strike in South Waziristan, said two police officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. It was unclear if it was the same strike believed to have killed Mehsud.