The hideouts were raided, weapons confiscated and members arrested.

An army command statement published in newspapers Saturday said military intelligence had arrested the ring members who were spread out in regions across the country including Beirut, the Bekaa and the South.

The seized weapons included explosives, rockets, machine guns and ammunition; all hidden in remote caves and groves. The army concluded that the purpose of the group was to "commit acts of sabotage or (arms) trade."

Various security sources indicated that those arrested include suspects believed to have launched rocket attacks against Israel from south Lebanon.

The arrested included four Lebanese and four Palestinians who belong to an unknown Islamic fundamentalist group. They were arrested in Beirut, Saida and the Bekaa town of Majdal Anjar, a fundamentalist hotbed.

Reports have emerged that the leader of the group is a Palestinian with ties to al-Qaida.

The newspaper said the suspects were handed over to the military tribunal where the government's commissioner Jean Fahd was examining their case ahead of issuing charges against them.

Source: Ya Libnan, Naharnet, AP