DHAKA: U.S. special operations forces captured Al Qaeda leader Abu Anas al Libi in the capital of Tripoli, U.S. officials say, in a mission that was conducted with the knowledge of Libya`s government.

He had been living in that still unsettled nation, more or less in the open, for over a year despite his alleged associations.

The 49-year-old al Qaeda operative has been all around the world -- Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Kenya, Britain, Iran and beyond -- making friends with some of the world`s most notorious terrorists and enemies with the United States and its allies.

On Saturday, his escapade ended where it began: in his homeland of Libya.

His next destination? U.S. authorities have long wanted al Libi to stand trial in an American court to face charges for his role in the twin 1998 bombings at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that left well over 200 dead and thousands wounded.

"It`s a huge deal to get him," said CNN`s Nic Robertson, a veteran of covering al Qaeda. "He`s a big player in al Qaeda (and) in one of the key target areas, in the north of Africa... This is a significant step."

Source: CNN
BDST: 0947 HRS, OCT 06, 2013
RS/BSK