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U.S. forces are holding three French nationals who were captured in Iraq fighting alongside insurgents loyal to terrorist kingpin Abu Musab al Zarqawi - a development that could complicate attempts to thaw relations between France and America. "I can confirm that we are aware of the existence of these three people of French nationality who are being held in Iraq," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous told a press conference in Paris last week, in comments first reported by Reuters. The French fighters were detained by a U.S. patrol during fighting in the city of Fallujah last November, Ladsous explained....

PARIS - French militants who join the fight against U.S.-led forces in Iraq (news - web sites) could one day return to strike terror in France and elsewhere, the defense minister warned Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press. AP Photo The warning followed the detention this week of 11 people in Paris as France's domestic counterterrorism agency moved to break up a network suspected of seeking to funnel young French Muslims to Iraq. Ten suspects remain in custody; one woman was released Wednesday. French officials have said the arrests were aimed partly at ensuring that suspected would-be militants...

PARIS - French militants who travel to Iraq (news - web sites) to fight in the insurgency against U.S.-led forces could strike terror elsewhere, including France, the defense minister warned Thursday in an interview with The Associated Press. The warning followed the detention this week of 11 people in Paris as France's domestic counterterrorism agency moved to break up a network suspected of seeking to funnel young French Muslims to Iraq. Ten suspects remain in custody; one woman was released Wednesday. French officials have said the arrests were aimed partly at ensuring that suspected would-be militants do not receive combat...

PARIS (Reuters) - France said Friday U.S. forces were holding three Frenchmen captured fighting with insurgents in Iraq (news - web sites) last November, handing Paris a diplomatic headache on the eve of a visit by the new U.S. secretary of state. Paris is in touch with Baghdad about the fate of its three nationals, who were detained by a U.S. patrol during fighting in the city of Falluja 30 miles west of Baghdad, Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said. "I can confirm that we are aware of the existence of these three people of French nationality who are being...