Mauritania catches Qaeda suspect dressed as woman

Submitted by SeafoodGumbo (United States), Apr 11, 2008 at 10:12

http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL10845757.html

NOUAKCHOTT, April 10 (Reuters) - Mauritanian police arrested a suspected al Qaeda militant accused of killing four French tourists as he attempted to avoid capture disguised as a woman, a government spokesman said on Thursday.

"He was disguised as a woman and was carrying a weapon under his dress. He had been trailed by the police for several days and is currently being questioned in Nouakchott's central police station," he said.

A police official said Haiba was wearing habaya, the black robes favoured by some strict Muslim women that cover the head and entire body with only a small hole for the eyes.

The style of dress has become more common on the streets of Nouakchott in recent years, but is still fairly rare in a country where colourful dresses and headscarfs covering only the hair are more common.

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