Three more people have been arrested in the Paris area in a continuing crackdown by French authorities on suspected Islamic
extremists.
The arrests came after 24 suspected Islamic extremists were picked up Monday as part of a probe into robberies and money laundering linked to financing of international terrorist operations.
A total of 28 arrests have been carried out since Monday. One detainee was released on Tuesday, while the other 27 remain in custody.
Some of those arrested on Monday, including Algerian, French and Tunisian nationals in their 20s and 30s, had "indirect links" to Al-Qaeda's leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy.
Anti-terrorist investigators have until Friday to release them or bring them before a judge.
About 400 police officers took part in sweeps launched at dawn on Monday, among the biggest since arrests following the Madrid train bombings in March 2004.
France stepped up its anti-terrorist alert after the July bombings in London, and government ministers have warned repeatedly that the country is seen as a target by Islamic militants.