Islamabad, Oct 16: A top al Qaeda leader was among eight suspected militants killed in a recent operation launched by the Pakistani army in the northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid said. "An al-Qaeda man in the list of top 10 to 15 was among those killed," Rashid told reporters last night, adding that "I will not disclose his name at the moment but a reward for his arrest was announced."

Pakistan had launched a major operation against suspected al Qaeda suspects in the border town of Angoor Adda earlier this month, killing eight al Qaeda suspects.

Denying media reports that the dead militants were Pakistanis, Rashid said the action was against suspected al Qaeda militants and no local was killed in the operation. The information minister was reacting to allegations by the six-party Islamist alliance Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal that the operation was mounted against innocent civilians.

The MMA had also despatched an eight-member fact finding team to south Wazirstan to probe the clash but authorities turned the team back.

Replying to a question, Rashid said that the action in Waziristan was taken on the basis of electronic intelligence. He said Pakistan is against terrorism and will now allow any group to operate from its territory and added that innocent people will not be punished.

Bureau Report