Three Zarqawi-link suspects held in Paris

French counter-terrorism agents today arrested three suspects believed to have “indirect links” to al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a police spokeswoman said.

The round-up near Paris was connected to a similar sweep on Monday near the capital and in the northern Oise region that netted 25 suspects, said national police spokeswoman Catherine Casteran.

The three arrested today were believed to be part of a terror ring with “indirect links” to Zarqawi, she said, but did not provide further details immediately.

Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, speaking in parliament yesterday, described a web of links between the alleged network in France – which police say included both Islamic militants and common criminals – and other terror cells and groups, including Zarqawi.