US Attorney General John Ashcroft told members of a Senate Appropriations subcommittee that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies have undertaken "voluntary interviews" with some 11,000 US-based Iraqis "to obtain counter-terrorism information and intelligence information, as well as to identify any backlash threats to Iraqis in the United States."

"This cooperation has assisted us in our efforts in Iraq, as well as in our own domestic anti-terrorism efforts," Ashcroft told lawmakers.

"We have gathered intelligence about Iraqi bunkers, tunnel systems, telecommunications networks, manufacturing plants and Iraqi military officials," the secretary said.

"This information is being shared and analyzed by our law enforcement, military and intelligence officials," Ashcroft added.

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