WASHINGTON, Nov 22: A senior leader of the Al Qaeda network was being questioned on Friday by the US officials following his capture earlier this month at an undisclosed overseas location, a senior administration official said on condition of anonymity.

Abd al Rahim al Nashiri, believed to be the operations chief for Al Qaeda in the Persian Gulf, is thought to be the mastermind of the October 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Aden harbour, Yemen.

He is also believed to be connected to the 1998 bombings of US embassies in East Africa.

Unidentified government officials last week were reported to have said that a senior Al Qaeda official had been captured, but no other details were given.

On Sunday, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge said a senior terrorist leader was in custody. Again, no identification of the detainee was given.