The men have been accused of links to the Ansar al-Islam, a group based in northern Iraq which Washington alleges has connections with al-Qaeda, the organisation blamed for the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

The six have been placed in detention and formally accused of "plotting with the aim of carrying out acts of violence linked to international terrorism, including in states other than Italy."

The Milan court handling the case said that the men "are linked to a terrorist organisation, whose leader Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi is an important member of the al-Qaeda organisation."

They have also been accused of organising the recruitment of "fighters" for Ansar al-Islam (Supporters of Islam), possibly for combating the invading US and British forces in Iraq.

The arrest mandate said the men organised the travel of the recruits to Iraq via Syria, and also assisted by collecting money and arranging false identity papers for the volunteer fighters.

Four of the men -- an Egyptian, a Somalian and two Iraqi Kurds -- were arrested in overnight swoops in Milan and Parma by Italian special police forces, in an operation codenamed "Bazar".

The two others -- both of Tunisian origin -- were arrested in the evening. One of these men, Murad Trabelsi, is the imam of a mosque in the northern town of Cremona.

A seventh man, known only by the name "Abu Ali", was targeted by police in the operation, but appears to be currently in Kurdish regions of the Middle East, police said.

Italian media had reported earlier today that the arrests took place after police managed to intercept telephone conversations by the suspects, who spoke of an "important plan" forged together with the extremists of Ansar al-Islam.

They are being held on anti-terrorism charges introduced in Italy following the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Ansar al-Islam, which controls a tiny pocket of territory in northern Iraq, has come under repeated bombardment since the US-led campaign against Baghdad got underway last month.

On Tuesday a group of US special forces in northern Iraq said they had "neutralised" Ansar al-Islam in a joint operation with local Kurds, even though many of the group's fighters may have escaped over the border to neighbouring Iran.

Meanwhile, Italian prosecutors have decided to drop terrorism charges against five Moroccans arrested near the northern town of Rovigo in January.

Venice magistrate Felice Casson said the five would only be charged with the possession of an illegal explosive, and that the more serious charges would be dropped.

Their lawyer, Sofia Tengo, was due to lodge a demand for their immediate release on Tuesday.

WAR.WIRE