Bin Laden's son and favourite wife held

One of Osama bin Laden's sons has been detained by Iranian security forces, along with several hundred people suspected of links to the al-Qa'ida terror network. They were captured on Iranian territory as they fled from Afghanistan, according to an Iranian official, who asked not to be identified.

The son, who was not named, was handed over to either the Saudi or Pakistani authorities, according to a report on The Financial Times website. In Washington, a State Department spokeswoman said, "We are aware of the report and are looking into it."

Bin Laden has at least 23 children by several wives. One of the oldest, Saad bin Laden, who is about 22, has emerged as an al-Qa'ida leader. Mohammed and Ahmed bin Laden also support their father's efforts, US officials say.

The Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi, said the group detained numbered about 250 and that all the suspects had been returned to their home countries. However, diplomats believe the number captured is much higher.

It also emerged that the youngest wife of Bin Laden has been arrested after a gun battle at her father's compound in Yemen. Amal al-Sadah, the al-Qa'ida leader's fifth and favourite wife, who is in her early twenties, has been placed under house arrest and been questioned by the Yemeni authorities.