Cairo: An Egyptian airport official says the son of al-Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden and his British wife are being questioned at the airport after they were denied asylum in Spain.

The official says they are questioning Omar Osama Bin Laden, who has resided for several years in Egypt, to determine why he tried to gain asylum. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press.

Bin Laden's wife, Zaina Alsabah, 52, told the Associated Press last night that the couple had left Egypt because their visas had expired and had received threats from members of her husband's family, a wealthy Saudi construction dynasty.

Spain said Bin Laden's application did not meet their requirements for asylum.

Source : PTI