Italy arrests 3 terror suspects

Rome, 23 Dec. (AKI) - Three Algerians have been arrested in southern Italy as part of an inquiry into international terrorism. The men are suspected of belonging to a terrorist cell of the radical Salafite Group for Preaching and Combat(GSPC) which has links with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

The inquiry, codenamed "Full Moon", began in November 2003 into a group of Algerians resident in the area around Naples who caught police interest because of their close contacts with a known member of the GSPC.

Investigators say the widening of the inquiry to involve police forces in other countries has provided precious information on the current state of the GSPC, its international ties, and the most recent terrorist activity in Algeria.

Italian police last week carried out dawn raids at the homes and offices of an Algerian ring suspected of collecting money and other supplies for Islamist extremists in North Africa. The operation was carried out in the northern regions of Liguria and Lombardy and in Campania in the south. Money donated from Islamists based in Europe was sent to militants operating from the mountaineous regions of Algeria.