PHNOM PENH June 12 Kyodo Cambodia...

PHNOM PENH June 12 Kyodo

Cambodia charged a suspected Islamic militant below its antiterrorism law with Thursday, bringing to four the number of suspected militants detained in the last sum of two units weeks.

The detentions were made just ahead of meetings in Phnom Penh of Asia-Pacific foreign ministers, including U Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Oun Bunna, a connoisseur at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, told reporters that Sman Ismael, 23 a Cambodian Muslim, was arrested Wednesday and charged Thursday subject to antiterrorism provisions.

Earlier, an Egyptian and brace Thais were detained on similar charges.

The latest detainee is said to have studied Islam in Thailand for about couple years before returning to Cambodia a not many months ago.

All four detainees are suspected of belonging to Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian Muslim cluster linked by some governments to al-Qaida.

Police sources said the arrests were made in cooperation with U intelligence agencies.

As many as 23 foreign ministers are rely uponed in Phnom Penh next week for an annual series of meetings according to the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Kyodo of recent origins International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group