Arizona Muslims questioned before debate

TEMPE, Ariz., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- The FBI questioned hundreds of Muslims and visited mosques across Arizona ahead of Wednesday evening's presidential debate in Tempe, a Muslim group said.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said FBI agents visited the homes of Arizona Muslims to conduct voluntary interviews as part of a new initiative to block terror attacks.

CAIR said agents in the FBI operation, "Fall Threat Task Force," also have been conducting similar interviews of Muslims across the nation.

Muslims fear the plan could silence political expression in their communities, CAIR said.

Arizona State University in Tempe hosted the third debate between President George W. Bush and Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.