Good News

Key al-Qaeda figure in Southeast Asia captured

The White House announced Thursday the capture of a man described as al-Qaida's chief representative and operational planner in Southeast Asia, calling his apprehension "a significant blow to the enemy."
He was identified as Riduan Isamuddin -- also known as Hambali.

"His capture is another important victory in the global war on terrorism and a significant blow to the enemy," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters aboard Air Force One as President Bush flew from Texas to speaking engagements in southern California.

A senior administration official described the suspect as "one of the world's most lethal terrorists" and said his group, Jemaah Islamiya, was linked to last year's Bali bombing and a series of deadly church bombings in the Philippines.

He is also a leading suspect in the JW Marriot bombing in Jakarta and a close associate of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the alleged Sept. 11 mastermind who was captured earlier this year.
Hambali was captured in southeast Asia and is now in U.S. custody at an undisclosed location, officials said.