(AFP) The police have released six alleged Islamic militants from detention without trial but have restricted their freedom of movement, a police spokesman said today.

"Six of the members have already been released and placed under restricted residence, but we don't have further information," the spokesman said, adding that he was unable to name those freed.

In terms of the restricted residence regulations, the former detainees are subject to a number of conditions which may include reporting daily to the police and being banned from any political activity.

Information provided to police

Zainal Abidin Zin, deputy home minister, was quoted by the New Straits Times daily as saying the six were released "after providing some information to the police".

A total of 15 alleged members of the Malaysian Mujahedin Group (KMM) had been ordered in recent months to be held without trial for two years at the Kamunting detention camp in northern Perak state.

They were accused under the Internal Security Act (ISA) of having undergone training in Afghanistan to topple the government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The detainees include members of the opposition PAS, which wants to create a more rigid Islamic state in Malaysia.

One of those arrested was Nik Adli Nik Abdul Aziz, the son of PAS's influential spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. He was not among the six who were released, his brother told AFP.

"We have not received any information about the releases, but my brother is definitely not one of them," Nik Abdul said.

Critics accuse the government of simply using the ISA to crush political dissent, a charge it denies.