Arrested imam's name found in Iraqi documents

WASHINGTON - Documents found by American troops at a terrorist camp in Iraq last year contained the name of a New York mosque imam facing federal charges of plotting to obtain a shoulder-fired grenade launcher, law enforcement officials said Friday.

An entry in an address book found by the soldiers at an Ansar al-Islam camp last summer in northern Iraq referred to Yassin Aref as "the commander" and included his address and telephone number in Albany, N.Y., the officials said.

Although Aref had come to the FBI's attention before the address book's discovery, two law enforcement officials told the Associated Press it was a strong indication that Ansar al-Islam - which the United States has linked to the al-Qaida network - had a presence in the United States.

Aref, 34, and Mohammed Hossain, 49, are charged with money laundering and attempting to conceal material support for a terror organization. They were arrested Thursday.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - A British man arrested this week operated two U.S.-based Web sites to recruit and raise money for Taliban fighters and possessed a classified Navy document, federal prosecutors said Friday.

Authorities said that Babar Ahmad, 30, also had links to the e-mail account of a Chechen mujahedeen leader. They said the document had information on battle group plans for U.S. Navy vessels involved in operations against Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in Afghanistan.

Ahmad, who was arrested Wednesday in London on a U.S extradition warrant, made his first court appearance Friday. When asked if he understood the charges against him, he told the court: "Not really. It's all a bit confusing to me."

BUSH DEFENDS TERROR ALERT: President Bush defended the decision to issue terrorism warnings and tighten security in New York and Washington, saying "the threats we're dealing with are real" even though some of the intelligence on which the government acted is as much as 4 years old.

SUSPECT ARRESTED IN SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi police arrested a top terror suspect weeks after the al-Qaida-linked cleric reassured followers he was "taking all necessary precautions" to evade a government sweep, officials said.

GITMO DETAINEES APPEAR: Two Afghan detainees pleaded for their freedom before U.S. military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. They were the first such hearings to be opened to the press.

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