"Abu Bakar Bashir, 71, co-founder of Indonesia's deadliest terror group, al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah, was accused of providing vital support for an extremist cell plotting a wave of assassinations and high-profile attacks. 

He was seized in West Java, where a plot to kill President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was uncovered last week, and taken to Jakarta for questioning.

Mr Bashir was arrested twice before and spent 30 months in jail for conspiracy over his links to the 2002 Bali bombings in which 202 people - mostly Australian tourists - were killed.
But he was acquitted and released in 2006.

Police, who can hold Mr Bashir for up to a week without charging him, said he was actively involved in planning a military struggle a receive reports from the cell's field co-ordinator. 

Since his release Abu Bakir toured the country delivering fiery sermons and spoke at the funerals of the two men executed for their part in the Bali bombings. 

His detention was widely expected since three members of his Jema'ah Ansharut Tauhid organisation - a legal group that fosters Islamisation - were arrested in May for allegedly raising funds for al Qaeda in Aceh. 

A terrorist training camp complete with a large cache of assault rifles, ammunition and explosives was unearthed in Aceh in April and police said the cell has other facilities spread across Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim majority nation. 

Five suspected Islamist militants in West Java were alleged to have been plotting an assassination attempt on President Yudhoyono. The arrests were connected with Mr Bashir's seizure. 

Police said there was strong evidence showing that Mr Bashir had helped set up and fund the new terrorist cell in Aceh."