In addition the 13 were charged with "forging official and private documents and possessing unlicensed arms."

The 13 suspects belong to the following nationalities:
* 7 Syrians
* 3 Lebanese
* 1 Saudi Arabian
* 1 Jordanian
* 1 Palestinian

They were arrested in various Lebanese areas last week after they were put under surveillance by Lebanese security forces, court officials said.

Asked if any of the 13 belonged to the al-Qaida organisation, Oweidat said: "This information is not contained in the file referred to me."

But he added that the group's possible al-Qaida link would be examined during further investigation by top military magistrate Rashid Mezher. The investigation will determine if they had carried out or were planning to launch attacks.

Al Qaeda in Iraq has claimed responsibility for firing three Katyusha rockets from south Lebanon into northern Israel on December 27. There has been no independent confirmation that this militant group was behind that attack. Lebanese officials questioned the claim, including Prime Minister Fouad Siniora who described it as a "joke".

In the past, pro-Syrian Palestinian groups have also fired Katyusha rockets at Israel from south Lebanon which is largely controlled by Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

The arrest of the Al Qaida suspects could raise many eyebrows in Washington and Baghdad. The US and Iraq have always blamed Syria for allowing Al Qaida operatives to sneak into Iraq thru the Syrian borders. The fact that 7 out of the 17 suspects are Syrian nationals could confirm that Syria is trying to cause trouble in the whole region.

In another development, investigative judge in the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri Elias Eid issued an arrest warrant against a Syrian for giving a false testimony to mislead the investigation.

Judicial sources said Ibrahim Jarjoura gave different and confusing testimonies to the international inquiry into Hariri's killing and the Lebanese judicial authorities.

Photo: Police inspecting cars downtown Beirut near An Nahar headquarters

Source: Local media, UPI, Ya Libnan