[ELSHIEKH]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...d=968332188774

Mar. 30, 2004. 06:31 AM

Anti-terror RCMP team arrests man
Two raids carried out in Ottawa area



OTTAWA—A heavily armed RCMP anti-terror team with a search warrant stormed a house in the Ottawa area yesterday, one of two raids that resulted in the arrest of one man.

RCMP refused to comment on the reason for the warrant to search the two-storey home in Orleans, saying only that it was an "ongoing criminal investigation" and more information would be forthcoming in the next few days.

The officers were members of the RCMP's National Security Investigation Section, which tracks the activities of suspected terrorist groups or individuals, CBC-TV's The National reported.

The raid on the home, which is listed to a Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja, occurred at about the same time as officers took a man into custody at another undisclosed location in Ottawa.

Police would not reveal the name of the arrested man or his age.

RCMP Corporal Nathalie Deschenes said the arrest was connected to the search warrant at the house.

But she wouldn't say who was taken into custody.

Khawaja is the author of Muslims and the West, a book about Islamic fundamentalism that analyzes global conflicts within the framework of Muslim civilization.

Khawaja has also authored several other essays critical of American foreign policy, "corrupt Arab leadership," "American-Zionist political encroachment in the Middle East," and the West's response to terrorism and the war on terror.

He received his doctorate at Syracuse University, a university spokesperson said.

Neighbours described the owner of the house as a university professor who at times worked abroad.

They said he lived in the house with his wife and five adult children — four sons and a daughter.

"He's a really nice guy, really easy to talk to and friendly," said neighbour Veronica Thorogood. She added she hadn't seen the homeowner in about a month.

Neighbours said two people, whom they believed to be one of the owner's sons and his daughter, were led out of the house by police.

Deschenes said neither was being detained, only asked to leave the house during the search.

Ottawa Police Services assisted the RCMP by providing support, Deschenes said.

A CSIS spokeswoman wouldn't say much about whether the national security agency was involved in the investigation.

"I can say we work closely with the RCMP on a number of issues and I did hear of something happening this afternoon, but it's all RCMP," said CSIS spokeswoman Nicole Currier.

CANADIAN PRESS, WITH FILES FROM SUSAN DELACOURT