After his arrest he was sent to the judicial custody of the anti-terrorist police near Paris.

Following assertions that the attacks were made possible by security lapses, the chief of Peru's anti-terrorist police resigned.

When anti-terrorist police stormed the building, they met no resistance and found six burned corpses.

"The existence of a military plan to free the hostages should not come as a surprise," said an official of the anti-terrorist police.

Earlier this year it emerged that anti-terrorist police bugged Khan when he visited a constituent in prison.

Telephone calls made to the army and anti-terrorist police for comment in the last two days were not returned.

French anti-terrorist police rushed aboard the airliner after 8 hours and took Downey into custody, without the secret being revealed.

On Jan. 17, the rebels freed an official of Peru's anti-terrorist police, who had a heart ailment.

A search of his home by anti-terrorist police reportedly found night vision goggles, a bulletproof vest, and "extremist Islamic literature".

Begg's home in the U.K. was raided by anti-terrorist police in the summer of 2001.