The government has freed four alleged Muslim militants detained without trial for three years in time for the end of Ramadan, but imposed travel restrictions on them, said rights activists.

The four were arrested in 2001 under the harsh Internal Security Act and accused of having undergone military training in Afghanistan, Chang Lih Kang, a coordinator for rights group Suaram told AFP .

Abdul Razak Baharuddin, Abu Bakar Che Doi, Ahmad Tajuddin Abu Bakar and Khairuddin Saad were released last Wednesday, Chang said, ahead of the festival of Aidil Fitri, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of fasting.

Abdul Razak was arrested for allegedly being a member of the Al-Qaeda-linked regional terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiah, he added.

The others were accused of being members of the Kumpulam Mujahidin Malaysia (KMM), which allegedly has ties with Jemaah Islamiah.

Restricted residence

Chang said the four, who had spent the past three years in Kamunting detention camp in Perak, were placed under restricted residence orders forbidding them from travelling far from their homes.

Jemaah Islamiah is blamed for the Bali bombings which killed 202 people in October 2002 and last year's Marriott Jakarta hotel blast, in which 12 died.

Malaysia is holding more than 80 alleged Islamic militants under the Internal Security Act, which the government says is needed as a first line of defence against terrorism.

Rights groups have called for them all to be charged in court or released.