Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia has freed a suspected Islamic terrorist who was detained for several years under a draconian security law for his alleged involvement in the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, a news report said Wednesday.

Yazid Sufaat, 44, had allegedly allowed his home to be used for meetings by members of radical terrorist group al-Qaeda in the planning of the US attacks, said Inspector General of Police Musa Hassan.

Authorities detained Yazid under the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial, in January 2002, Musa was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.

Yazid was released, along with a second Malaysian man, on November 24, said Musa.

"We released him as he had shown remorse and repentance after almost seven years of rehabilitation.

"He was released on several conditions. He has to report to the police regularly and cannot leave (the state) without police permission.

"Our officers will also be monitoring him as well as several others who have been released over the past years to ensure they do not go back to their old ways," said Musa.

The report said the government has released 17 suspected members of the regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah - which has links with al-Qaeda - over this past year. Eight of those released were Indonesian nationals.

Yazid, a US-trained biochemist and former military officer, has also been accused of having connections with Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged and convicted in the US for the attacks of September 11.

Yazid's wife, who was also detained under the security act in 2002, was released after spending two months in detention. (dpa)