WASHINGTON - Osama bin Laden's spokesman and son-in-law was captured, a high-ranking US Representative was on Thursday quoted as saying.

Local media quoted Republican Representative Peter King, formerly chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, as saying Sulaiman Abu Ghaith was captured within the last week in Jordan. He called Abu Ghaith's capture a "very significant victory " in the effort against al Qaeda.

King said Ghaith was bin Laden's son-in-law and was involved in the September 11 attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001, which killed over 2,900 people.    

White House Spokesman Jay Carney declined to comment on the report during his daily press briefing Thursday.

Other reports said Abu Ghaith is being held in New York, and will appear in court Friday to face federal charges

US Treasury Department has described Abu Ghaith as "the official spokesman of al Qaeda since his appointment to that position after the attacks of September 11, 2001."