Mr Habib arrived in Sydney in January after three years' detention

Lawyer Stephen Hopper said intelligence services may have been involved.

Mr Habib returned to Australia last month after being held for three years without charges.

His first interview since his release is due to be aired on Sunday, and he has reportedly been paid more than $150,000 for taking part.

Prime Minister John Howard said he could not prevent Mr Habib from selling his story, but the government refused to rule out legal action to seize any money he made from public appearances.

Mr Hopper said he had been dropping two members of Mr Habib's family at their home on Thursday night when they discovered the latest break-in.

Nothing appeared to have been taken, Mr Hopper told the Australian news agency AAP.

MAMDOUH HABIB Born in Egypt, but has lived in Australia since 1980 Arrested in Pakistan after September 11 attacks Flown to Egypt, where his lawyer says he was tortured Transferred to Guantanamo Bay in May 2002 Released January 2005 Full profile

"We suspect it is possible that ASIO [Australian Security Intelligence Organisation], the CIA or even the Egyptian intelligence services may have something to do with this," he said.

"There is certainly nothing they are going to find there that could cause my client or his family any problems," he added.

A spokeswoman for Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the break-in was a police matter.

TV interview

News of the break-ins has come just days before Australia's Nine Network is due to broadcast an interview with Mr Habib.

The former Guantanamo detainee has reportedly agreed to tell his story for A$200,000 (US$157,000).

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has said he will look into whether the government can legally confiscate any money Mr Habib makes from his story.

But Prime Minister John Howard said he had received no advice that Mr Habib's interview deal was illegal. "As a matter of principle I don't like it, but I have no right to object to it because its perfectly lawful," Mr Howard told a Melbourne radio station.

Mr Hopper said he was not worried by the government's criticism of his client's actions.

"I don't believe that Mr Habib has said anything that creates any liability towards him," he told AAP. "However, I think he has said a few things that may create liabilities for the government."