Official: Man seized in Cairo apparently not al-Qaida

WASHINGTON — A U.S. official says the U.S. doesn’t believe that a man arrested in Cairo is a long-sought senior al-Qaida military leader.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, a U.S. national security official said Wednesday the arrest appeared to be a case of mistaken identity, but that the U.S. was working with Egyptian officials to be sure.

William Carter, an FBI spokesman, said that “every effort is being made by the U.S. government to verify the identity of the person in custody.”

Mohammed Ibrahim Makkawi was arrested on his arrival at Cairo airport from Pakistan via Dubai, Egyptian security and airport officials said. The FBI has listed that name on its most-wanted list as an alias for the senior al-Qaida leader known as Saif al-Adel.