WASHINGTON Ñ The United States and its allies have developed a system of intelligence-sharing that has dramatically increased the flow of intelligence on insurgency threats to Washington since the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on New York and Washington, U.S. officials said.

"I can tell you we're privy to shared information that's coming from a broad coalition, in surprising range and depth," said Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold, director of operations at the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

U.S. officials said Central Command, responsible for the military presence in the Gulf, has relayed an alert of an Al Qaida attack based on unspecified intelligence intercepts. The officials said the alert does not point to clear plans by the Islamic insurgency group, Middle East Newsline reported.

In certain areas of the Gulf and Middle East, the officials said, the latest intercepts have prompted the military to place troops on a higher state of alert. The officials did not say where the higher state of alert was ordered.

"As you know, we have our forces at higher state of alert, force protection conditions, ever since 9/11," Newbold said. "In response to what you've heard over the weekend, I would say it is relatively non-specific, and we are watching it extremely closely."

The United States has more than 10,000 troops in the Persian Gulf. Most of them are based in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The United States has maintained its military forces in the Persian Gulf on alert for an attack by Al Qaida or its satellite organizations.

Newbold said the reports over the weekend of an imminent Al Qaida attack have not prompted the higher alert in the Middle East. The general said that in most areas of the region military forces are already at a higher state of alert meant to counter any threat.

Meanwhile, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Bob Graham, said 25 Islamic insurgents have entered the United States to attack key installations. They could include members of the Iranian-backed Hizbullah and Egypt's Jihad movements. The warning supported a report by ABC News that told of a meeting between Al Qaida, Hamas and Hizbullah leaders in Lebanon last March.

FBI director Robert Mueller warned on Monday that the United States will be struck by a major attack. Mueller predicted suicide bombings similar to that being experienced by Israel. "I think we will see that in the future," Mueller told district attorneys in Alexandria, Va. "I think it's inevitable. There will be another terrorist attack. We will not be able to stop it."

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