By DOUG MELLGREN, Associated Press Writer
OSLO, Norway - A court on Tuesday ordered the founder of the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Islam jailed until Feb. 2 pending an investigation into allegations he plotted the attempted murders of his political rivals.
An Oslo appeals court ruled that there was sufficient grounds to hold Mullah Krekar, overturning a lower court's decision to release him last week.
Ansar al-Islam, a group of Kurds in northern Iraq, is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the United Nations.
Krekar claims he is no longer its leader, but the Borgarting appeals court said it found reason to believe he has maintained a key role in the organization.
"Several witnesses leave the impression that suicide and bombing actions would not have been carried out without (Krekar) being made aware of it, and according to the suspect's statement to police no one could be punished without his approval," said the ruling.
The court also said Krekar should be held because there is a risk he could flee the country.
Krekar was arrested at his home in Oslo in early December on charges he plotted the attempted murders of political rivals in northern Iraq between 2000 and 2001.
In an Arabic television program aired in December, Krekar discussed in detail a March 2003 suicide bombing in Iraq that killed four people, including an Australian journalist.
Ansar al-Islam fielded 600 Islamic militants in the mountains of northern Iraq before being bombed by U.S. forces and overrun by rival Kurdish militias.
Krekar, born Najm al-Din Faraj Ahmad, has denied allegations of terrorism and links to the al-Qaida network.
Krekar was arrested at the airport outside Amsterdam on Sept. 12, 2002, after Iran denied him entry and sent him back to Europe.
After being interviewed by the FBI in Dutch custody, he was deported in January 2003 to Norway, where he was arrested again and questioned by a host of intelligence services before a court ordered him released.