The Philippines military has arrested a Filipino man they suspect of supplying a ton of explosives for use in an alleged plot to bomb Western targets in Singapore.

Security forces arrested the man, Hussain Ramos, also known as Ali Ramos or Abu Ali, in the southern Philippine city of Marawi on Monday night.

Jailed militant Al-Ghozi implicated Ramos

Officials says he was identified by an Indonesian man convicted in April of buying explosives for the alleged operations, Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi.

Police say al-Ghozi is a member of the regional militant group Jemaah Islamiah, which has been linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Hauled before Arroyo

Military and police officials presented Mr Ramos, 35, to Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the presidential palace in Manila shortly after announcing his arrest.

The military said Mr Ramos admitted he had procured explosives for al-Ghozi between November and December, 2001 for use in Singapore.

A military report said that al-Ghozi was put in contact with Mr Ramos through the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's main Muslim separatist group which signed a ceasefire with Manila last year.

Army chief Lieutenant General Dioisio Santiago refused to name the group Mr Ramos was working for, but he said the suspect had revealed that this group was operating in distinct cells, and was actively recruiting.

Analysts say Jemaah Islamiah wants to establish an Islamic state to include parts of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Bombing plot

Officials allege that Jemaah Islamiah planned to attack US military personnel and naval vessels as well as the British high commission, the Israeli embassy and the Australian high commission in Singapore.

Al-Ghozi has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in connection with the discovery by Philippines police of a ton of TNT, 300 detonators and 17 M-16 assault rifles, buried in a backyard in the southern city of General Santos.

He has also admitted to involvement in a string on deadly bombings in Manila in December 2000 that killed 22 people and injured more than 120.

He still faces charges relating to the bombings, which may include murder charges.