Qaida figure detained in Cairo, NBC News reports Mohammed Ibrahim Makkawi, also known as Saif al-Adel, is widely believed to have taken over as operational head of al-Qaida following the death of Osama bin Laden in May. By Ayman Mohyeldin, NBC News correspondent in Cairo, msnbc.com news services and staff Updated at 8:14 a.m. Ayman al-Zawahri replaced bin Laden as al-Qaida's leader and Makkawi is thought to have been put in charge of the tactical planning of attacks. Makkawi was traveling to Egypt from Pakistan via the United Arab Emirates, sources told NBC News. He was detained upon arrival and handed over to Egyptian intelligence officials, NBC News said. However, a senior U.S. official later told NBC News that it was unable to either confirm or deny whether al-Adel was in custody. Saif al-Adel, an Egyptian, has been indicted by the United States for an alleged role in the Aug. 7, 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya that killed 224 people. The FBI describes al-Adel as "a high-ranking member of the al-Qaida organization" and the State Department has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. Makkawi is believed to be aged in his 50s. "I am not the wanted Saif al-Adel," Makkawi told reporters. What has been said about me is lies. I never took part in actions against people or installations. "I decided to come to Egypt to live in peace and because I am certain of my innocence," he said. NBC News reported that Makkawi was believed to have been held in Iran since shortly after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001. However, unconfirmed reports in recent months suggested he had been released by Iranian authorities. NBC News' Ayman Mohyeldin, Charlene Gubash and Robert Windrem, msnbc.com staff and The Associated Press contributed to this report.