US holding 20 al-Qaida suspects

The US military is holding 20 people suspected of links to al-Qaida, the commander of US forces said in Baghdad today.

“We have about 20 who are suspected of being from al-Qaida,” Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez said. “We are still questioning them” and have not determined absolutely whether they are members of Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organisation.

US officials have said they suspect foreign volunteers, including some from al-Qaida, have slipped across the borders into Iraq to take part in a “holy war” against the US-led occupation.

Asked about foreign fighters, Sanchez said “hundreds” of foreigners crossed the border area to carry out attacks.

Sanchez was asked how close US forces had been to capturing Saddam Hussein, Sanchez replied only: “Not close enough.”

American commanders have speculated that they are facing attacks from Saddam supporters, religious extremists and foreign fighters.

Sanchez said there was “no doubt” that the insurgency had intensified and that the guerrillas “had developed their capability” employing rockets and mortars in recent attacks.

He said most of the foreign fighters entered the country from Syria and across the northeastern border with Iran. He said Iraqi immigration authorities were now monitoring the border more effectively to make sure no one enters the country with forged documents.