WASHINGTON, March 3: The White House praised Pakistan on Monday for the arrest of alleged Sept 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, calling the arrest of such a “big fish” a major blow to Al Qaeda network.

US President George W. Bush “expresses his deep appreciation and gratitude to President Pervez Musharraf and the government of Pakistan for their efforts this past weekend that led to the capture” of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, said President Bush’s spokesman Ari Fleischer.

“This is a very serious development, a blow to Al Qaeda and the president is appreciative to Pakistan for the fine efforts that they have been carrying out in the war against terror and for their fine work in this most recent success.”

Mr Fleischer refused to say where Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was being interrogated or whether he was in US custody.

He also declined to echo criticism in some quarters that Pakistan announced Khalid Mohammed’s arrest too soon, perhaps tipping off any Al Qaeda operatives in touch with him.

“There are just some fish that are so big you can’t keep them quiet. And this was certainly such a big fish,” said the spokesman.

Pakistani and Western officials said Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was due to be flown out of Pakistan on Monday to an undisclosed location, after being questioned by US and Pakistani officials in Rawalpindi where he was captured in a pre-dawn raid on Saturday.—AFP