In IRAN
Iran officially confirmed to AFP today the arrest and deportation of a son of fugitive al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
**"About two months ago we arrested some 20 people who had entered Iran illegally, without knowing the son of bin Laden was among them.
Immediately, we sent them back across the (Pakistani) border,"** :nono3: government spokesman Abdullah Ramezanzadeh said.
The group entered Iran from Pakistan and was sent back to that country, he stressed, because **“they were not carrying identity papers and could not be identified”.
"At the time, we didn’t know that (bin Laden’s son) was among them and we found out later,** he added, **without naming him or giving any other details. **
And a better picture of the terrorist leader’s health, if he is still alive, could emerge with the reported questioning of a doctor who treated bin Laden.
It was reported yesterday that US investigators were questioning prominent Pakistani surgeon Amir Aziz, 46, a British-trained orthopaedic surgeon who, it is claimed, treated bin Laden in December last year after the world’s most wanted man escaped Afghanistan.
Dr Aziz was arrested two weeks ago in Lahore, Pakistan, by the FBI and Pakistani military intelligence officers.
One of bin Laden’s sons and his fifth wife apparently also were detained in separate raids.
An Iranian official reportedly said the son was handed to either the Saudi or Pakistani authorities. He was said to be with several hundred other people suspected of Al-Qaeda links captured by Iran’s security forces.
**Bin Laden has at least 23 children. One of the oldest, Saad bin Laden, aged about 22, has emerged as an Al-Qaeda leader and among America’s top two dozen targets in the terrorist network. **
Bin Laden’s fifth and favourite wife, Amal al-Saddah, is reported to be under house arrest after a gun battle at her father’s compound in Yemen.
Al-Saddah’s father and brother were also reportedly taken into custody. But US officials could not corroborate the reports.