Sept 11 prisoner moved to house arrest in Spain

MADRID, Oct 6 (Reuters) An Al Jazeera journalist jailed in Spain on terrorism charges related to the September 11 attacks has been released from jail and put under house arrest due to his ill health, the prisoner's wife said today.

Tayseer Alouni, 51, known for interviewing Osama bin Laden shortly after the September 11 attacks, was allowed to leave jail and return to his home in Granada today due to heart problems, his wife said.

''We are pleased his health is being taken into consideration, but we will be even happier when he is proven innocent,'' said Alouni's wife, Fatima Zohra Hamed Layesi, in a telephone interview.

Alouni, a Syrian with Spanish citizenship, was accused of carrying money intended for al Qaeda members during visits to Afghanistan for his journalistic work.

He was jailed for seven years in September 2005 by Spain's high court which found him guilty of collaborating with a terrorist group.

He was one of 18 defendants sentenced in Europe's biggest ever trial of suspected Islamist militants.

Arab satellite broadcaster Al Jazeera and media watchdogs denounced Alouni's jailing, saying it was based on circumstantial evidence and set a dangerous precedent for journalists worldwide.

Spain's Supreme Court in June dismissed an appeal against the Alouni verdict.

REUTERS SHB BST1951