BBC News Online: World: Africa

Senior Libyan spy under arrest

The arrested spy is Gaddafi's brother-in-law

The report said sources close to the Libyan government had confirmed that Abdallah Senoussi had been detained together with several other Libyan intelligence officials.

Two years ago, Mr Senoussi was sentenced to life imprisonment by a French court for his part in the bombing of a French airliner over Niger in 1989.

Another five Libyan agents and diplomats were also convicted of involvement in the bombing, which killed 170 people.

Family ties

The newspaper said Mr Senoussi is Muammar Gaddafi's brother-in-law and has been a confidant of the Libyan leader for 20 years.

The reason for his arrest was not immediately clear.

But the newspaper quoted informed sources as saying the move was indicative of closer co-operation in the fight against terrorism between Tripoli and Washington.

The United States has long accused Libya of involvement in terrorist acts including the 1988 downing of a Pan-Am flight over Lockerbie and the bombing of a Berlin disco in 1986.