Sana'a, October 30, 2006 - Eight foreigners have been arrested in Yemen on suspicion of planning to smuggle weapons to Islamic militia in Somalia on behalf of the al-Qaeda terror network, Arab media reported Monday. A Somali national, three Australians, a German and three other Europeans of undisclosed nationality were arrested on October 16 and are being interrogated by police authorities prior to appearing in court, Yemen's interior ministry said.

"Initial investigations suggest that the men belonged to the al-Qaeda organization," said the statement.

The men had links to the Islamic Imam university in Sana'a, which is led by influential Islamist Sheikh Abdul-Majid Al-Zindani, whom the US has accused of supporting terrorism, reports said Monday. The university denied this.

More than 20 Yemenis have also been arrested, Yemen's Al-Ayyam newspaper reported. One of them confessed the group had planned a car bomb attack on Sana'a airport, the report said.

Source: DPA (German Press Agency)