Hambali, whose wife was arrested for questioning in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, August 17 (IslamOnline.net & News agencies) – As a Malaysian top security official said Sunday, August 17, that the Malaysian wife of alleged ‘terror’ suspect Hambali has been handed over to police by Thai authorities for questioning, U.S. President George W. Bush praised Thailand over the arrest of Hambali, and pledged to share information from his U.S.-led interrogation with Indonesia.

Noralwizah Lee Abdullah, 33, was arrested together with Hambali in Thailand Monday, August 11.

She was flown into the Kuala Lumpur International Airport late Saturday escorted by Thai and Malaysian police, the official told Agence France-Presse (AFP), on condition of anonymity.

Malaysian police would be seeking information from Hambali's wife about his activities as a top leader in the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group, he said.

"We hope to get bits and pieces of information to tie up loose ends and perhaps confirm intelligence obtained earlier," the security official said.

"She might be able to identify those who are involved with Hambali, their meeting places. This would help with further arrests," he said.

A report in the Sunday Star quoting unnamed sources said Noralwizah had been flown into the country escorted by Thai and Malaysian police.

Malaysian police chief Norian Mai was quoted as saying, "we requested for her to be handed over to us so that she can assist us in our investigations."

However, the report did not say where she was being detained.

Malaysian police played a part in Hambali's capture, attributing the success to exchanges of intelligence between Malaysia "and neighboring countries," the official Bernama news agency said Friday.

"Intelligence agencies from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore are now working together to ensure security," Norian had said.

Meanwhile, Bernama quoted Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak as saying, "we cannot rule out the possibility that other cells might exist in the region, and that is why we need to be on guard at all times.

"Let's not think that the arrest of Hambali has solved the problem."

Bush Praises Hambali Arrest

In telephone conversations with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Bush exulted over what he called a victory in “the war on terrorism”, said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Bush and Megawati "talked about the importance of sharing information from the interrogation of Hambali," who Washington has announced is in U.S. custody at a secret location, McClellan told reporters in a conference call.

Indonesian officials said Saturday that they wanted U.S. officials to grant them access to question Hambali over his alleged role in blasts in seven Indonesian cities, in an effort to prevent further attacks.

Bush and Megawati also "said they would remain in close contact as they continue to work together in the war on terrorism," McClellan said, as Bush enjoyed his annual month-long vacation here on his ranch.

McClellan sidestepped questions on Thaksin's charge that, before his arrest this week, Hambali was planning an attack at the October APEC summit in Bangkok, which the U.S. leader is expected to attend.

Bush "called the Prime Minister to express our appreciation for the role the Thais played in the capture of Hambali" and "praised the work of Thai law enforcement, said the White House spokesman.

The U.S. President also said he looked forward to seeing Thaksin at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in the Thai capital, Bush's spokesman said.

Thaksin said earlier Saturday that Thai authorities had arrested "two or three" suspects before tracking down Hambali.

He did not elaborate on their identities, but a Thai security source told AFP that Thai authorities in July arrested a senior Malaysian JI operative named Zubair who tipped them off to Hambali's location.

"Zubair was in Bangkok for months preparing for the APEC attack, which would have been as large-scale as what happened in Indonesia," the source said

Questioned by reporters in Bangkok, Thaksin was circumspect about where Hambali was being held.

"If I knew I wouldn't tell you," he said, although he added Hambali was being interrogated by officials from "allied countries," including Thailand.

"We are taking turns interrogating him and we are also exchanging information," he said.

Hambali, born Riduan Isamuddin in Indonesia in 1966, arrived in Malaysia in 1985 before leaving to fight in the anti-Soviet campaign in Afghanistan from 1987 until 1991.

He returned, married and settled in the quiet village of Sungai Manggis about an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur.

There, he allegedly built JI into a “terror network” with fellow villager and Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir.

Bashir is on trial in Jakarta for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government and to set up an Islamic state, while Hambali has been on the run for years.

Hambali is wanted in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines in connection with a series of bomb attacks as well as in Indonesia for attacks including the Bali bombings in October last year and the recent attack on the Marriott hotel in Jakarta.