Friday, May 6 2005 18:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistani intelligence agents have foiled a new plot by al-Qaeda militants to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf, security officials old today (May 6, 2005).

Seven conspirators were arrested in a number of raids in central Punjab province in late April, one week before the capture of al-Qaeda alleged number three Abu Faraj al-Libbi in northwestern region, they said.

The group included Mushtaq Ahmed, a junior airforce official who escaped from jail late last year (2004) after being sentenced to death for his involvement in a 2003 attempt to eliminate Musharraf, and who was recaptured last week.

"First we smashed the gang plotting a new attack on Musharraf and then a week later we netted two Arabs including al-Libbi," a top intelligence official said.