TBILISI. Aug 30 (Interfax-AVN) - Interrogations of an Arab detained in Pankisi Gorge have yielded evidence of his complicity in international terrorist organizations and illegal activities in Georgia, a source in the Georgian State Security Ministry told Interfax-Military News Agency on Friday.
"The initial data needs checking but it suggests that the man had links with Al-Qaeda and activities of illegal Chechen armed formations," he said.
The source refused to reveal those confirmations due to the interests of the investigation.
The detention of the Arab, who had a passport of a French citizen on him, and his possible involvement in terrorist circles was made public by Georgian State Security Minister Valery Khaburdzania.
The source stressed that "the detainee was observed by Georgian special services for a long time and was checked. Interrogations confirmed that the person was a major figure among terrorists."
According to the source, if the involvement of the Arab in crimes committed in neighboring or other countries is confirmed he will be handed to law-enforcement agencies of those states.