Indonesia: JI Militant Noordin Top's New Group

Indonesian authorities announced Jan. 31 that they are investigating links among al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and new Islamist militant group Tanzim Qaedat al-Jihad, headed by Malaysian militant and fugitive Noordin Mohammed Top, a key financier for JI. The inquiry reportedly was spurred by information gathered during interrogations indicating that Top had formed a new regional jihadist group to operate in the Malay Archipelago. The unveiling of the new group highlights the difficulties al Qaeda has had in gaining a following in Indonesia, and offers Jakarta new options in regional and domestic relations regarding its own fight against militants.