Spain arrests Al-Jazeera scribe for terror links

Spanish police have arrested an Al-Jazeera correspondent, Tayseer Allouni, for allegedly having links with the Al-Qaeda, CNN reported on Friday.

A Spanish court official told CNN that Allouni, who interviewed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in October 2001, is believed to have helped two suspected members of the group -- Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, alias Abu Dahdah and Mohammed Bahiah, alias Abu Kalhed.

Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas was arrested on November 13, 2001, and is thought to have been an Al-Qaeda ringleader in Spain, the official said.

Mohammed Bahiah is a suspected Al-Qaeda fugitive thought to be in Afghanistan, the official added.

Allouni is expected to appear in Madrid's National Court on Monday, he said.

Judge Baltasar Garzon, who has been leading the investigation in Spain into alleged members of the Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups, issued his arrest warrant, Allouni's wife Fatima Hamed Layasi told CNN from her home in Granada, where the arrest took place.

"A group of police came with a judicial order at noon today and searched the home" for about three hours while Allouni was present, before taking him away, she said.