Release of an Islamic Militant Leader Ordered by a Court in Norway - 2004-01-05

A Norwegian court has ordered the release of an Islamic militant leader but has allowed for his continued detention until the prosecutor's office completes its investigation. Norwegian police arrested Mullah Krekar, the spiritual leader of the Islamic group Ansar al-Islam, on Friday at his apartment. This group is based in Iraq and is linked to the terrorist network Al-Qaeda. The arrest was made in connection with a suicide attack carried out by Krekar's affiliated group in northern Iraq. Prosecutors wanted Krekar to remain in jail for four weeks while they prepared their case against him. However, a court in Oslo ruled on Monday that there was insufficient evidence to continue his detention. The police stated that they are preparing to contest this ruling in a research court, claiming that part of their case is based on classified information that cannot be disclosed to the public. The United States has designated Ansar al-Islam as a terrorist organization, asserting that it has connections to Al-Qaeda. Mullah Krekar, who has lived in Norway as a political refugee for over a decade, denies any ties to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network.