DATE=03/20/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= TERROR INTERVIEWS (S)

NUMBER=2-287785

BYLINE=JIM MALONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: U-S Attorney General John Ashcroft announced Wednesday that federal investigators will seek voluntary interviews with an additional 3-thousand foreign nationals as part of an effort to prevent further terrorist attacks. Details now from correspondent Jim Malone.

TEXT: The nation's top law enforcement official says this new round of interviews will focus on immigrants from countries where the al-Qaida terrorist network is known to have a presence:

///ASHCROFT ACT///

We believe that these individuals might, either wittingly or unwittingly, be in the same circles, communities or social groups as those engaged in terrorist activities.

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The voluntary interviews are similar to an initial round begun in November with 5-thousand men of Middle Eastern descent, a process that drew complaints from civil rights and Arab-American groups.

Attorney General Ashcroft says investigators were able to contact only about half of those sought in the initial round. But he says the vast majority of those contacted were cooperative and that some of them provided valuable information to law enforcement officials. (Signed)

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