Libya said it had demanded an explanation from Washington Sunday for the "kidnap" of a citizen in an unauthorized commando raid on its territory that netted a top Al-Qaeda suspect.

"The Libyan government has been following the reports of  the kidnap of one of the Libyan citizens wanted by the authorities in the United States," a government statement said. 

"As soon as it heard the reports, the Libyan government contacted the US authorities to demand an explanation."

US special forces seized Abu Anas al-Libi in a commando raid in broad daylight on Saturday, sealing a 15-year manhunt for the top Al-Qaeda suspect.

A source close to Libi told AFP he was snatched by armed men in Tripoli. 

Libi, who was on the FBI's most wanted list with a $5 million reward, was indicted in US federal court in New York for allegedly playing a key role in deadly 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

"As the result of a US counterterrorism operation, Abu Anas al-Libi is currently lawfully detained by the US military in a secure location outside of Libya," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement. (AFP)