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France urges

caution over

bomb attack probe

PARIS: France suggested on Tuesday investigations into the Paris bomb attacks were being hampered by the early disclosure that a suspected Algerian Moslem militant had been detained in Sweden.

Justice Minister Jacques Toubon declined to comment on the detention of Abdelkrim Deneche in Sweden on Monday for questioning about the bombings that have killed seven people and injured more than 100 in the past month.

"The government regrets that premature information could hamper the investigation," Toubon told RTL radio.

"I am trying to make sure that police and justice services solve the attacks and I am not sure that this will be best done in public. Statements are more help to criminals than to investigators."

French police suspect Deneche of being a leading member of Algeria's violent Armed Islamic Group (GIA).

Official French sources said on Monday that Deneche was being held in Stockholm after a request by visiting French anti-terrorist magistrate Jean-Francois Ricard.-Reuter