Iran holding al-Qaida top brass

IRAN is holding top members of the al-Qaida terror network, the intelligence minister said yesterday, days after US President Goerge W Bush accused the country of harbouring terrorists.

Tehran has said in recent months that it has al-Qaida figures in its prisons, but yesterday's comments were the first word that some of them held high positions in Osama bin Laden 's group. "A large number of small- and big-time elements of al-Qaida are in our custody," Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi told reporters. He did not name any of the detainees.

Mr Yunesi declined to comment on media reports that Iran is holding al-Qaida's Number 2, Ayman al-Zawahri, the group's spokesman Suleiman Abu Ghaith or its security chief Saif al-Adil.

The White House on Monday repeated its accusations that Iran, as well as Syria, is harbouring terrorists, a charge both Tehran and Damascus deny.

"This behavior is completely unacceptable," Mr Bush said. "States that support terror will be held accountable."

Iranian officials have insisted they are pursuing al-Qaida figures and announced several months ago they had an undisclosed number in custody. They later said they identified the al-Qaida members, but never announced who they are.

"Wherever we learn of some clues about people connected to al-Qaida, we launch intelligence operations and arrest them. We are firm on this, because we consider it our duty to do so," Mr Yunesi said at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting.

Iran said last month that it was holding talks with foreign intelligence services, including Britain's, over the fate of its detained members of al-Qaida.