US forces have detained up to 20 suspected members of al-Qaeda since they moved into Iraq but have found no proof they belong to Osama bin Laden's network, the US military said.
Washington blames die-hard supporters of Saddam Hussein and foreign Muslim militants for a wave of attacks on occupying troops and a series of suicide bombings.
Lieut Gen Ricardo Sanchez said the detainees suspected of al-Qaeda membership appeared to sympathise with bin Laden's ideology and may have links through finances and training to "international terrorist organisations".
