'Al-Qaida members' being held in US
The US government is detaining 603 people in its terrorism investigation, including some alleged members of Osama bin Laden's network.
US Attorney General John Ashcroft says 104 people have been charged with federal crimes in the inquiry.
Federal agents have cited concerns about nuclear power plants, guns and box cutters in seeking the detentions.
Mr Ashcroft has made the announcement with growing congressional concern about the secrecy and scope of his investigation.
In his most detailed public accounting yet, Mr Ashcroft released the names of those facing federal charges. But he has refused to provide names for the hundreds held on immigration violations, saying he did not want to aid bin Laden's al-Qaida network.
He said: "The Department of Justice is waging a deliberate campaign of arrest and detention to protect American lives. We are removing suspected terrorists who violate the law from our streets to prevent further terrorist attacks."
Mr Ashcroft has disclosed 55 people face federal criminal charges and 548 on immigration violations. Forty-nine others who have been charged with crimes are either being sought or have been released on bond, officials have said.
