Officials Deny Al-Qaeda U.S. Spokesman Arrested In Pakistan

Pakistani security officials are denying reports that an American-born Al-Qaeda spokesman has been captured in Pakistan.

On March 7, Pakistani officials were quoted as saying that Adam Gadahn, a California-born convert to Islam, had been arrested in the city of Karachi in recent days.

However, security officials speaking on condition of anonymity today said that a suspected Al-Qaeda operative believed to be American had been arrested, but that he was not Gadahn.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad said it had not been notified of the arrest of any U.S. citizen.

Gadahn, who is in his early 30s, has appeared in Al-Qaeda videos in which he calls for attacks on the United States and other Western countries.

Gadahn has been indicted for treason in the United States and there is a $1 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

compiled from agency reports