Report: Detained suspects in Jordan linked to al Qaeda

Suspects detained earlier this week in Jordan are linked to Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network and were planning to launch an attack under orders from Jordanian Mussab al-Zarqawi, an alleged leader of the network in Iraq, a local newspaper reported Friday. 

Al-Rai said the people arrested "belong to Al-Qaeda," and that the "group was trying to carry out an attack under orders of Fadel Nazzal al-Khalayleh," which is Zarqawi's real name. 

Jordanian government spokeswoman Asma Khadr refused to confirm or deny the story, but added a "detailed statement will be issued on this affair. "To disclose information at this stage could hurt the investigation," she conveyed. 

© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)