From Kelli Arena
CNN Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON (CNN) --Ramzi Binalshibh, one of the al Qaeda operatives most wanted by the U.S. government, has been captured and is in the hands of Pakistani authorities, U.S. government officials told CNN Friday.

Binalshibh is believed to have played a direct role in planning the September 11 terrorist hijackings. In an audio message played Thursday on the Arabic news network Al-Jazeera, Binalshibh said he had hoped to be one of the hijackers but could not obtain an entry visa into the United States.

In that interview, Binalshibh said he and other al Qaeda followers were elated when they watched the news of the hijacked planes slamming into the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

"The brothers shouted Allah Akbar! Thanks to God and cried," he said in the Al-Jazeera interview.

The network said the taped interview was made in Karachi, Pakistan.

The U.S. officials would not elaborate further about the capture. White House and intelligence officials declined comment.


Well, that's good news.