Al-qaida believed behind Kenya attacks

US President George W Bush yesterday said he believes Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network was involved in attacks in Kenya last week.

Mr Bush, answering questions from reporters, confirmed US suspicions about al-Qaida's involvement in attacks in which three suicide bombers crashed a vehicle into a hotel, killing three Israelis, nine Kenyans and an unidentified person.

In addition, an almost simultaneous missile attack narrowly missed an Israeli airliner taking off nearby.

"I am concerned about al-Qaida anywhere. I believe that al-Qaida was involved in the African bombing in Kenya. I believe al-Qaida hates freedom. I believe al-Qaida will strike anywhere they can in order to disrupt civil society," Mr Bush said.

US officials say a shoulder-fired rocket launcher used in an attack on the airliner has been linked to al-Qaida.

They said they consider credible a purported al-Qaida statement posted on the internet claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Meanwhile, police yesterday said they have detained the man who sold the four-wheel-drive vehicle used in the hotel bombinglast week.

The man was picked up for questioning on Tuesday night in Mombasa and has told police he sold the Mitsubishi Pajero to "two Arab-looking young men" for 380,000 Kenyan shillings, or about €4,868 Deputy Police Commissioner William Langat said.

Langat refused to provide any more details.

On Monday Mr Langat told a news conference that the vehicle had been purchased in 1991 by a foreigner working for a Christian charity organisation.

The vehicle is apparently still registered in that name, although the foreigner left Kenya in 1998.

The vehicle exploded outside the Paradise Hotel near Mombasa on November 28 after another bomber reportedly blew himself up inside the building.

Mr Langat said there was no information on a second four-wheel drive vehicle seen driving away from the spot near Mombasa airport where unidentified persons fired two surface-to-air missiles that narrowly missed an Israeli chartered airliner taking off with Israeli tourists.