By David Runk

Associated Press Writer

Federal authorities said Monday that nearly 650 Middle Eastern men living in Michigan will be contacted for interviews as part of the federal terrorism investigation.

In the eastern half of the state, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Collins said letters were being sent to about 560 people to set up interviews in the ``least intrusive manner.''

Margaret Chiara, the U.S. attorney for western and northern Michigan, said her task force will personally contact about 85 men, with agents going door-to-door seeking information.

``We believe that a friendly, face-to-face meeting at the door of a visitor in familiar surroundings will create less anxiety and is more personal than a letter from the federal government,'' said Lloyd Meyer, assistant U.S. attorney for the Western District.

Michigan has one of the nation's largest Arab-American communities. About 300,000 of the state's 350,000 Arab-Americans live in the Detroit area, according to the Arab-American Institute.

The interviews are part of a nationwide effort to contact more than 5,000 visitors from Middle Eastern countries and determine if they have been recruited by Osama bin Laden's terrorist organization, al Qaeda.

Those being interviewed may have an attorney present, said Collins. Also present at the interview will likely be a federal agent and a local member of law enforcement, he said. Interpreters are available if needed.

Collins suggested that the process of seeking an interview with the men would cease if they chose not to participate.

But William Dwyer, police chief in Farmington Hills and president of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, said Monday after a news conference with Collins that some kind of follow-up might take place.

Civil libertarians have criticized the planned interviews, saying the effort amounts to racial profiling.

At least one police department, in Portland, Ore., has declined to cooperate with the effort.

``Clearly this is the government's effort to intimidate,'' Wendy Wagenheim, spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, told the Detroit Free Press.

``When you use a dragnet approach, you're not even talking to people who may be guilty of anything. . . . That's not making us any safer.''

Ishmael Ahmed, chief executive of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services in Dearborn, said his organization wants people who have information about the terrorist attacks to come forward. But he remains concerned about the interviews.

``I'm glad that they're not going to show up at people's doors (here), and that will allow people to have a lawyer with them,'' Ahmed said. ``However, we are still concerned that this whole investigative process has shifted from an investigation into a crime to an investigation of a class.''

John Bell, special agent in charge of the Detroit FBI office, acknowledged that the interviews could be seen as profiling but said the government has little choice.

``Terrorists aren't born. Terrorists have to recruit members,'' he told the Detroit Free Press.

``It doesn't make much sense to go to people in northern Canada and talk to them about it.''

Nevertheless, Bell emphasized that anyone who says no to being interviewed will not be questioned.

``The bottom line is this: If they say, `I understand that this is voluntary, but I'd rather not participate,' that ends it,'' Bell told the Detroit News.

Those being interviewed are men age 18 to 33 who have been in the United States on nonimmigrant, tourist, business or student visas since Jan. 1, 2000.

Collins said the letters ask the men to contact his office by Dec. 4 to set up an interview.

``We have no reason to believe that you are, in any way, associated with terrorist activities,'' the letter states. ``Nevertheless, you may know something that could be helpful in our efforts.''

Those being interviewed are expected to face a detailed battery of questions.

A recent Justice Department memo to U.S. Attorneys' offices and local anti-terrorism task forces outlined the questions for investigators to ask the men.

The memo tells investigators to ask whether the person knows anyone who has fought in a war; anyone who acted in a ``surprising or inappropriate way'' to the Sept. 11 attacks; or anyone involved in terrorism or willing to carry out terrorist attacks.

Kary Moss, executive director for Michigan branch of American Civil Liberties Union, said a letter might be less intimidating than a personal visit.