Beirut  - Relatives of alleged Islamic extremists staged a protest Tuesday in downtown Beirut to demand the release of their family members from Lebanese jails.

About 200 protesters gathered in a square near the Lebanese parliament which was in session and shouted Islamic slogans and waved banners calling for the release of their relatives.

The protesters included the wives of some of the prisoners suspected of plotting or carrying out militant attacks against the Lebanese army. The women have been rallying for their husbands' release for weeks.

Lebanon is holding in custody about 300 suspects on terrorism- related charges, including members of the Fatah al-Islam group, which is believed to have links with the al-Qaeda terrorist network, and who fought the Lebanese army at the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahar al-Bared last year. (dpa)