|
Norwegian Court Releases Ansar Al-Islam Founder
A Norwegian appeals court freed an Iraqi Kurdish founder of the Islamist group Ansar al-Islam on Wednesday, overturning an earlier ruling to keep him jailed during an anti-terror investigation, police said. Mullah Krekar, who has had refugee status in Norway since 1991 and denies any terror links, had been detained for almost two weeks since a lower court ruled that police could keep him jailed for a month. The prosecution later on Wednesday lodged another appeal to the High Court, the highest Norwegian court. Krekar had told the court that he was no longer the leader of Ansar al-Islam, which Washington accuses of ties to al Qaeda, suspected of the September 11 attacks in the United States. Meling said Krekar was one of several founders of Ansar al-Islam and its first leader from December 2001 to May 2002. Krekar says has had no contact with the group since then.Changed your mind, had a falling out, or just setting up European operations? "We will appeal to the High Court because we are not satisfied," said Erling Grimstad, in charge of the police investigation. "We are still investigating this case with full speed and will continue to do so even though (Krekar) has been let out of custody," he told Reuters. I'd keep an eye on him if I was you. Norway's government has said it wants to expel Krekar due to national security concerns, but has not given any details. I think there's a waiting list of people who'd like to "talk" to him. Posted by: Steve 2003-04-02 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=12358 |