Saturday, August 12 2006 14:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan yesterday (Aug 11, 2006) named British national Rashid Rauf, who was arrested here, as a 'key person' in the terror plot targeting US-bound airliners from Britain and claimed that there was an Al Qaeda connection in the conspiracy.

"Acting on the information earlier received from the United Kingdom, arrests were made in Pakistan which triggered arrests on the nights between 9th and 10th August 2006 in the United Kingdom. A key person arrested is British national Rashid Rauf. There are indications of Afghanistan- based Al-Qaeda connection," a Foreign Office statement said.

Pakistani officials said earlier that two British nationals of Pakistani origin and five local Pakistanis have been held in connection with the plot to blow up the planes.

"The uncovering and foiling of the terrorist plot in London has been the result of active cooperation among the intelligence agencies of Pakistan, United Kingdom and the United States. The cooperation in this case was spread over a period of time," it said.

It said the case has wider international dimensions.

"These coordinated arrests underscore the very important role that has been played by Pakistan in breaking this international terrorist network," the statement said.