U.S. interests targeted in Singapore

SINGAPORE -- A U.S. Navy ship and a bar frequented by American troops had been targeted for attack by 21 men arrested last month with alleged links to al-Qaida, government official said Thursday.

The terror group also planned to hit the country's Defense Ministry and water pipelines, the officials said.

The men were acting on orders from an Indonesian Muslim cleric, Riduan Isamuddin, also known as Hambali, said Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry. Hambali, whose whereabouts are unknown, is believed to be the leader of Jemaah Islamiyah, a regional group officials have linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network.

The ministry, which is responsible for security, said an unnamed American vessel at the Changi Naval Base was targeted in late 2001, as well as a pub which they believed was popular with American military service personnel.

The U.S. Navy has a logistics unit in Singapore and warships going to and from Afghanistan have been resupplied in the city-state. Last year, Singapore opened a new naval facility specially designed to accommodate U.S. aircraft carriers.

American officials said about 100 U.S. Navy ships move through Singapore annually, but declined to comment on the alleged terror threat.

"We remain confident in the safety and security provided by the government of Singapore," said Leslie Hull-Ryde, a Navy spokeswoman in Singapore.

The operatives allegedly targeted Jurong Island, an industrial area off Singapore's southern coast that is home to numerous chemical factories, the statement said.

The government allegations were based on recovered maps, photos and notes from the homes of three suspects, copies of which were provided in the statement.

The 21 suspects were also planning attacks on the Defense Ministry and Singapore's water pipelines from Malaysia, the Home Affairs Ministry statement said.

The group intended to portray its operations as attacks by the Malaysian government in order to create "animosity and distress between Malaysia and Singapore," the ministry said.