Egypt holds French, U S suspects in secret group

CAIRO, Dec 4 (Reuters) Egyptian police have arrested nine French people, an American and two Belgians on suspicion of forming a secret Islamist organisation linked to ''terrorist'' groups abroad, the government said today.

A number of Tunisians and Syrians were also arrested, the Interior Ministry said.

''These people had links with certain terrorist organisations abroad. Investigations showed that they were trying to recruit others and indoctrinate them in their destructive beliefs and incite them to jihad and to travel to Iraq to carry out operations,'' a ministry statement said.

''The members of the secret organisation have adopted takfiri and jihadi ideas ... It includes Arabs and foreigners resident in the country under cover of studying the Arabic language and Islamic religious learning,'' it added.

Takfiri groups believe that Muslims who do not share their views are infidels. Jihad is usually translated as holy war.

Reuters BDP DB2332