Blair expresses gratitude to Pak Govt, Prez

Islamabad, Aug 12: Britain Prime Minister Tony Blair today called Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf to appreciate Pakistan's role in thwarting a plot to blow up aircraft midair, Foreign Ministry said.

Mr Blair thanked General Musharraf, the Government of Pakistan and all others for the valuable help they provided in busting the international terrorist network.

A senior government official here said that two Britons of Pakistani descent along with five other suspects had been arrested in Pakistan as part of a coordinated operation to foil the plot to blow up aircraft flying from Britain to the United States.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the two Britons were key catches, and had been arrested last week.

Pakistan said the plot was thwarted after active coordination between Pakistani, British and U S intelligence agencies, leading to the arrest of 24 people in Britain.

''A key person arrested is British national Rashid Rauf,'' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the British Muslims criticised the UK government for publishing the names of 19 men who police sources say are under arrest for allegedly plotting to blow up passenger planes bound for the United States.

Pakistan suspected involvement of al Qaeda in Afghanistan in the foiled U K bomb plot.

They also identified a key suspect.

''A key person arrested is British national Rashid Rauf,'' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

''There are indications of (an) Afghanistan-based al Qaeda connection,'' it added.

Rashid Rauf was arrested in Pakistan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Tasnim Aslam said but did not say when that arrest was made.

UNI