Pakistani forces arrest 40 with suspected al-Qaeda links

Pakistani forces arrest 40 with suspected al-Qaeda links

2011-05-06 21:51:48 GMT+7 (ICT)

ABBOTTABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Pakistani security forces on Thursday arrested 40 people with suspected links to the militant organization al-Qaeda, the U.S. government said on Friday.

The U.S. government said the search operation in Pakistan involved several law enforcement agencies in the Abbottabad district, where al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces on Sunday. The U.S. did not participate in Thursday's operation.

Among the agencies participating in the major operation were the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and Abbottabad police. Authorities in Pakistan, who have been accused of helping Bin Laden stay at the compound in the city, called it the 'second phase' of the operation that killed Bin Laden.

Earlier on Friday, the 'general command' of al-Qaeda confirmed that its leader was killed by U.S. forces in Abbottabad on Sunday. It was the first official confirmation from the militant group itself and called on its followers for revenge attacks on the United States and its allies.

It also called upon Muslims in Pakistan to rise up against its leaders. "We call upon Muslim people in Pakistan, the land where Sheikh Osama was killed, to revolt and rise up to wash off this shame that was caused by a handful of traitors and thieves who have sold everything to the enemies of the nation, and disregarded the feelings of their people," the statement said, referring to Pakistan's leadership.

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