Islamist 'plotters' held in Malaysia

Malaysian police yesterday arrested a group of Muslims believed to be members of Jeemah Islamiyah, the radical Islamist group that several world leaders have accused of carrying out Saturday's bombings in Bali.

Malaysia's police chief, Norian Mai, said the arrests were not directly linked to the bombings and had been planned before the explosions.

The men were allegedly plotting another attack. "We believe those arrested have acted or will act in a manner that can threaten the security and peace of the country," he said.

The latest detentions bring to about 70 the number of people detained under Malaysia's Internal Security Act. Critics accuse the prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has won praise from Washington for his clampdown, of silencing his political opponents by detaining them indefinitely without charge under the act.

Mr Norian named two of the men as Shaari Mustapha, 35, a religious teacher who had had military training, studied Islam in Pakistan and has links with al-Qaida; and Bakkey Mhamud, 45, a civil engineer who had just returned from the southern Philippines, where radical Muslim groups are also fighting the authorities.

The others are Nik Abdul Rahman Mustapha, 28; Abdul Murad Sudin, 39, a businessman; and Azuhar Abdul Samad, 32, a trader.