Singapore releases two Jemaah Islamiah detainees

SINGAPORE, Sep 15 (Reuters) Singapore has released two men, who were arrested in 2002 over links to Jemaah Islamiah, for cooperating with government investigators, the Home Ministry said today.

Said bin Ismail and Munain bin Turru will however remain under a two-year restriction order which will limit their travels, and they will not be able to leave the country without permission, the Ministry said.

The two detainees have cooperated with the government during investigations and responded positively to religious counselling, it said in a statement.

The Jemaah Islamiah is a Southeast Asian militant group linked to al Qaeda.

Singapore is currently holding 34 suspected Muslim militants in detention under its internal security laws, which allow for indefinite detention without trial, Home Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Wendy Woo told Reuters.

Singapore, a staunch U.S. ally and a major base for Western business, sees itself as a prime terrorism target in the region after it foiled plots in 2001 by the Jemaah Islamiah group to attack its airport and various Western targets, including the U.S. embassy.

Reuters AB DB1837