MANAMA, Bahrain (AFP) - The family of a Bahraini man held without trial in Saudi Arabia for five years for suspected Al-Qaeda links said on Monday they have lost track of him.

Abdurrahim al-Morbati was arrested in Riyadh in June 2003 and held in a prison in the Saudi capital, where he was allowed monthly family visits, his son, Osama, told AFP.

But the management of Haer prison south of Riyadh recently told the family that he has been transferred to another jail in the southwestern province of Assir, he said.

The family has been unable to locate Morbati and has not seen him for three months, he said, adding that his father denies any links with Al-Qaeda and has not been put on trial.

"Some tell us he is still in Riyadh, others that he is in Assir, while others say he has been moved to Bahrain," the son added.

A Bahraini official, who requested anonymity, told AFP that Morbati was not in Bahrain. He said the man was still in Riyadh and Bahraini authorities were in touch with Saudi counterparts to arrange a family visit.

Saudi Arabia has detained thousands of suspected Al-Qaeda militants in the past five years after they launched a wave of deadly attacks in the oil-rich kingdom in May 2003.

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