Bangladesh hangs 6 militants

DHAKA, Marce At least 22 Islamists were arrested in overnight raids as Bangladesh strengthened security nationwide on Saturday after authorities hanged six top Muslim militants, police said.

The 22 Islamists, all alleged activists of the group Hizbut Tahrir Bangladesh, were arrested as they watched anti-US footage of the Iraq war at a house in the capital Dhaka, city police chief Nayeem Ahmed said.

"We have arrested them on suspected extremist links. We found videos showing the US war in Iraq, leaflets and other suspicious extremist materials. They also broke the government's emergency laws on political gatherings," he said.

Hizbut Tahrir, which aims to establish a global Islamic empire through peaceful political means, is banned in many countries but not in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Police said they also carried out raids across the country, one day after six top Islamic militants, including the leader of the outlawed Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), were executed in four different jails.

The militants were sentenced to death last year for an attack that killed two judges in November 2005.

Authorities say the JMB was also behind 400 coordinated blasts that shook the country in August that year. An additional 2,000 police were deployed in key spots in Dhaka to prevent any revenge JMB attacks, Ahmed said, as part of a move to step up security across the country.

"We've set up checkposts in front of key mosques, main roads and important government buildings to prevent attack. We don't want to leave anything to chance," he said.

"Some JMB militants have been arrested in recent days so we think remnants of the group are still there," he said. Security has also been increased in the southwestern port city of Chittagong, Bangladesh's second biggest urban centre, and the towns where the six militants were buried.

The six executed militants included JMB leader Shaikh Abdur Rahman and his deputy, Siddiqul Islam Bangla Bhai.