Friday, 29 November, 2002, 10:20 GMT

Belgian police have arrested the head of an Arab militant group accused of inciting riots this week in Antwerp, in the wake of the killing of a young Arab teacher.

The move came after Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt indicated that the organisation - the Arab European League (AEL) - could be banned, and accused it of attempting to set up no-go areas for police.

The AEL described the arrest of its leader Dyab Abu Jahjah, as a "provocation" but said it would not respond.

The funeral of the dead teacher, Mohammed Achrak, is planned for Friday.

Video patrols

The AEL is suing the city's mayor, Leona Detiege, for libel, after her accusation that it fomented the riots on Tuesday and Wednesday, after the death of the teacher.

The group last week began video patrols to film Antwerp police, in an effort to record what it claims is racist behaviour.

They distributed flyers under the heading: "Bad cops - the AEL is watching you."

Mr Abu Jahjah has called for Arabic to be recognised as a fourth official language in Belgium, after French, Dutch and German.

The far-right opposition Vlaams Blok, which took 33% of the vote in the last local elections in Antwerp, called for the patrols to be arrested, and for the AEL to be banned.

"If we have to ban this organisation, then we will do so," Mr Verhofstadt told parliament, stressing that any decision would be based on the rule of law.

Ethnic mix

"I have no doubt that action is on the way."

Officials are already investigating whether the video patrols breach rules banning private militias.

Earler this year, there were attacks on Jews in the city, apparently linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

About 30,000 people of Arab origin live in the city of 450,000, which also includes 20,000 Jews.

The Vlaams Blok holds 20 seats on the 55-seat municipal council.

Belgian police are still holding 20 youths of North African descent after arresting more than 100 during the rioting earlier this week.

The demonstrators said the killing was racially motivated, but police say there is no evidence for this.

A 66-year-old pensioner, described by prosecutors as mentally unstable, has been charged with the murder.

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2002