Islamabad: Pakistani forces working in close co-ordination with American forces have apprehended over 500 suspected al-Qaida militants belonging to 18 different countries and handed most of them to the US authorities.

Most of the arrests of the al-Qaida militants, including Osama bin Laden's close associate Abu Zubaydah, were made during a series of search operations in the country, the 'Dawn' newspaper reported quoting Pakistan military intelligence officials.

American authorities have moved about 443 suspects handed over to them to some undisclosed foreign destination, probably to Guantanamo Bay for interrogation, it said.

The suspects arrested in search operation in various parts of the country, including the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, belong to 18 different countries with Yemene topping the list comprising Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, Morocco, Chechnya and France among others, it said.

PTI