A clandestine opposition group in Asmara has distributed a statement alleging that PFDJ security officers headed by a certain Teweldeberhan have arrested a prominent businessman by the name of Mohammed Said Nasser from his residence in the Sembel housing project.    A protest from his neighbors spared the arrest of his daughter, Dr. Huda Mohammed Said, a recent returnee who was visiting her father.

Mr. Mohammed Said Nasser owns the Gash Investment Company and had been under house arrest for three months for refusing to partner with Red Sea Corporation (09), the ruling party�s monopolistic financial conglomerate. Throughout his house arrest, there had been futile efforts underway to reconcile him with the PFDJ.

Earlier, Mr. Mohammed Said Nasser, who has wide-ranging business relationship with financial institutions and investors in the Gulf States, had been asked to head the Eritrean Investment office by President Isaias Afwerki.  He rejected the president's offer as well as membership in the ruling party, PFDJ. 

Mr. Mohammed Said Nasser is the latest high-profile businessman to run afoul of the PFDJ.  The statement mentions that eight other businessmen were also arrested, but it doesn�t give their names.

Three other well-known businessmen, all in their late 70�s and in deteriorating health, have been detained incommunicado since September-October 2001.  They are Sunabera Demena, Hassen Kekya and Abdu Ahmed Younis.