US military experts were expected to study a possible link between a group of alleged terrorists arrested in Kuwait and those who carried out the suicide bombing of the USS Cole, a newspaper said Saturday.
"US military experts will take samples of seized explosives to compare with those used in the bombing of the USS Cole, and those used in the (Saudi) Khobar blast," Al-Watan said, quoting "special" sources as saying.
Kuwait said Thursday that security forces had arrested three nationals for plotting to carry out attacks in the region, and seized 133 kgs (293 pounds) of powerful explosives and 1,450 detonators as well.
The Yemeni government says C-4 plastic explosive was used to cripple the US destroyer in Aden last month, leaving 17 seamen dead.
The 1996 bombing of a US military complex in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, which killed 19 servicemen, has never been solved.
Kuwaiti reports on Friday said the fugitive head of the group is a Moroccan travelling on a fake Saudi passport, who left the emirate with the help of a police captain said to have been a member of the group.
The man, whose name was not disclosed, reportedly traveled from Iran and returned to Tehran.
"Information obtained by US investigators in Yemen have helped to uncover some members of the Kuwaiti group," Al-Watan said.
US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Thursday "we are discussing these particular arrests with the government of Kuwait," adding that Washington had "ongoing," "excellent" and "active" cooperation on terrorism.
The arrests came just one week after US forces in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were put on the highest security alert because of a "credible threat" of attacks against unspecified targets.
Kuwait has boosted security precautions around the US and British embassies in the emirate, setting up road checkpoints and checking cars.
The US embassy in Kuwait last week warned Americans that "the US government has indications that individuals may be planning terrorist actions against US citizens and interests in the Gulf, Arabian Peninsula and Turkey."
The interior ministry did not say if the group was linked to Osama Bin Laden or what targets they were planning to attack, but press reports in Kuwait said the group comprised of Islamic activists who have links to the Saudi dissident.
Bin Laden, the suspected masterminding of the 1998 US embassy bombings in Africa that killed more than 220 people, is living in Afghanistan as a guest of the ruling Taliban militia -- KUWAIT CITY (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
