Saturday, 30 November, 2002, 10:53 GMT

No connection has yet been established between 12 people detained over attacks on Israeli targets in the Kenyan city of Mombasa and the al-Qaeda network, Kenyan authorities say.

A couple from Florida, who were among those held, have been released after the authorities accepted they had no involvement in the bombing of the Paradise Hotel which killed 16 people, including three suicide attackers, on Thursday.

United States officials have said they believe a Somali-based Islamic group may have carried out the bombing, which was immediately preceded by a failed missile attack on a nearby Israeli plane.

The officials say the group, Al-Ittihad al-Islamiya (AIAI), also known as the Islamic Union, is a prominent militant organisation in the Horn of Africa with links to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

International investigation

Kenyan authorities investigating the attacks detained six Pakistanis, three Somalis, an American and a Spaniard.

The US and Spanish nationals - a couple from Florida - were released on Saturday.

They were held as they checked out of their hotel shortly after the blast occurred.

The Pakistanis and Somalis had arrived in Mombasa in a leaky boat on Monday, Deputy Police Commissioner William Langat said.

"These people are either connected directly or remotely. Some may not be connected at all," said Internal Security Minister Julius Sunkuli.

US and Israeli security officers have joined the hunt for those responsible for attacks.

And the US and several other Western countries have increased security at embassies and issued warnings to citizens travelling to Kenya.

Troublesome border

Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, visiting the bombed hotel on Friday, said the attacks showed terrorism was dangerous not only to Europe and the United States, but also to Africa.

His Vice President, Musalia Mudavadi, expressed dismay that the country had become a battleground for other people's wars.

A previously unknown group called the Army of Palestine earlier claimed responsibility for the attacks.

But US officials are focusing attention on AIAI because of its suspected al-Qaeda links and presence in Kenya.

It is thought to be behind bomb attacks in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa in 1996 and 1997 and the kidnapping of relief workers in 1998.

Kenya has a long remote border with Somalia which is particularly difficult to police because of incursions by armed bands known as shiftas.

Ten years of conflict and instability in Somalia have made weapons easily available in border areas.

-- Anonymous, November 30, 2002