The tribesman wanted to trade the oil workers for a comrade who had been jailed for the killing of a police officer.

"This here is an oasis," said Jalil Bottom, serving 35 years to life for the killing of a police officer.

This was the first killing of a police officer in Northern Ireland since 1998.

The last capital case in Westchester was tried in 1974 for the killing of a police officer and resulted in a death sentence.

A major Government crackdown against Muslim fundamentalists is apparently being carried out here in response to the killing of a senior police officer.

"Plainly, the killing of a police officer is an extremely serious crime," he said.

He provided this reminder after announcing the arrest of three suspects in the killing of a police officer and another man last week.

They were also suspected of ordering the killings of a police officer and a parole officer.

In the late 1960's and early 1970's, talk of a conspiracy was renewed with almost every killing of a police officer.

The Governor and the Mayor have said in effect that the killing of a police officer should trigger the death penalty.