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Group threatens to kill kidnapped U.S. reporter

The kidnappers sent an e-mail showing Pearl with a gun to his head

(CNN) -- The kidnappers of a Wall Street Journal reporter in Pakistan have threatened to kill him within 24 hours if their demands are not met, and the group warned American journalists in Pakistan to get out of the country within three days or "be targeted," according to an e-mail obtained by CNN and other news agencies.

The group, which calls itself "The National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty" also sent new photos of Daniel Pearl, 38. In an earlier e-mail, the group said the kidnapping was in retaliation for the detention of Pakistanis at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They are demanding the release of the detained Pakistanis.

Earlier Wednesday, Pakistani authorities said they had arrested a man they describe as the "prime suspect" in Pearl's kidnapping.

The suspect, Sheikh Mubarik ali Gilani, is a religious leader whose sect, Jamaat al-Fuqra, was once on a U.S. list of terrorist organizations.

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Pakistani police Pearl was on his way to meet with Gilani when he was kidnapped. Pearl wanted to ask Gilani about contacts his group supposedly had with Richard Reid, the man accused of trying to set off explosives in his shoes aboard a plane in December.

But a spokesman for Gilani said no arrangements were ever made for a meeting with Pearl, and said Gilani has nothing to do with Pearl's kidnapping.

The Wall Street Journal's managing editor appealed by e-mail Tuesday for Pearl's release. (Full story)

Latest developments

• U.S. marshals responsible for the detention and transportation of accused terrorists Zacharias Moussaoui and John Walker Lindh said Wednesday they have increased already tight security at the Virginia jail and federal courthouse where they are awaiting trial. (Full story)

• A small boat approached within 300 feet of the Navy command ship USS Blue Ridge off Brunei on two separate nights in the past week, U.S. intelligence officials said. The movements were similar to those employed by terrorists during the attack on the USS Cole, in October 2000.

• Dozens of flights at San Francisco International Airport were delayed Wednesday and thousands of passengers faced rescreening after a security breach involving a screening company that has been criticized for earlier lapses. Screeners detected residue on a man's shoes that could have come from explosives, then gave him back his shoes before he could be questioned further, an airport official said. (Full story)

• Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai on Wednesday asked the U.N. Security Council to extend and expand the mandate of multinational security forces in Afghanistan. "Our people look upon the presence of these forces as a sign of continued commitment of the international community to peace and security in Afghanistan," Karzai said.

• U.S. authorities have started interrogating the 158 al Qaeda and Taliban fighters at the naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for the first time since they arrived from Afghanistan, a Pentagon official said.

• President Bush on Tuesday asked Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle to limit congressional investigation into the events of September 11, sources told CNN. Vice President Dick Cheney called Daschle last Friday to make the same request. Daschle said he has not agreed to limit the investigations. (Full story)

• In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, Bush said the war against terrorism "is only beginning." He emphasized that homeland security must be strengthened because thousands of terrorists remain at large, and he pledged the United States would continue to be "steadfast, patient and persistent" in disrupting terrorist networks. (Full story)

• Fighting broke out Wednesday between two Pashtun factions in eastern Afghanistan after the acting governor of Paktia Province moved his forces close to the city of Gardez. The fighting began as a "peace convoy" of Afghan leaders was holding meetings in Gardez. The convoy has been traveling around Paktia over the past week in an effort to unite Pashtuns, who are split among three factions. (Full story)

• Attorneys for Zacarias Moussaoui, the man accused of conspiracy in the September 11 attacks, have asked to depose a man taken into custody shortly afterward as a material witness. They said Jean Tony Antoine Oulai might have information that could clear Moussaoui. Oulai was taken into custody on September 14 after flight manuals and a stun gun were found in his luggage at a Florida airport. He denies any involvement in the attacks.