Military

DATE=2/12/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PENTAGON/ARREST (S ONLY)

NUMBER=2-313066

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A member of the U-S National Guard has been arrested in the western state of Washington and charged with trying to provide information to the al-Qaida terrorist network. More from V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida at the Pentagon.

TEXT: Army officials say Specialist Ryan Anderson has been charged with what is termed "aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the al-Qaida terrorist network."

It is not known what information the 26-year-old National Guardsman allegedly attempted to provide to al-Qaida.

But the officials disclose he was taken into custody in a joint operation involving both military and federal law enforcement agents. The tank crew member, who Army officials say professes to be a Muslim, is being held at Fort Lewis, an Army base south of the city of Seattle.

His unit is scheduled to depart for Iraq shortly for a planned one-year deployment. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/PT