Philippines arrests alleged Al Qaida-linked bomber

Manila: Officials say police have arrested a suspected Al Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf bomber involved in the 2002 killing of an American Green Beret and a recent hotel blast that killed three people.

Paquito Ochoa, who heads the government's Anti-terrorism Council, says police and military intelligence officers captured Hussain Ahaddin late Tuesday in his hide-out near the southern city of Zamboanga.

Police said Wednesday that Ahaddin belonged to an urban-based squad of the Abu Sayyaf in Zamboanga city.

He is believed to be involved in six deadly bombings, including in Monday's blast that killed three people and wounded 27 others at a budget hotel in the city.

The Abu Sayyaf has been weakened by years of US-backed Philippine offensives but remains a threat.