Spain judge frees five suspected of financing terror

A Spanish judge has freed five Algerians arrested on suspicion of financing an al Qaida-linked group in North Africa, citing a lack of evidence. But the judge also ordered the men to stay in Spain and report to judicial authorities twice a month.
The Algerians, aged between 36 and 49 years old, have not been charged. National Court judge Fernando Grande-Marlaska said in a statement received Sunday by The Associated Press that there was no evidence the men had sent ``important sums to Algeria' or that the alleged recipients were ``persons related to terrorist activity.'