Russian Foreign Intelligence Service director Sergei Lebedev said the anti-terrorist coalition had captured or killed most of the al-Qaeda international terrorist network's leaders. "Nearly 70% of al-Qaeda's highest-ranking members have been captured or killed in the international anti-terrorist campaign that has been in progress since 2001. They include the closest allies of 'Terrorist No. 1:' Abu-Zubaida, Abu-Leits, Sheikh Khalid Mohamed, and Abu Faraj al-Libi," Lebedev said in an interview with Interfax ahead of the 85th anniversary of the country's Foreign Intelligence Service to be marked on December 20.
"As for Al-Qaeda representatives who took part in terrorist activities in the North Caucasus, odious figures such as Hattab, Abu al-Walid, Abu Zait and Abu Omar have been eliminated," he said. "The special services of a number of European countries carried out a joint operation in November 2005 to arrest leaders and members of Al-Qaeda's cells in Belgium, France, Italy and other states," he said. Terrorism can be defeated only through "joint efforts of all countries, their special services, other state bodies, and international organizations. The Foreign Intelligence Service's cooperation with its foreign colleagues helps achieve greater results in the anti-terrorist fight. That is why we are committed to further strengthening international cooperation in this area," Lebedev said. |