MILAN (Reuters) - Italian anti-terrorist police have  arrested two Pakistanis suspected of helping to finance the  Islamic militant group responsible for the attacks on Mumbai in  November 2008, that killed 166 people.

Police said in a statement yesterday the men, identified  using leads from Indian authorities and the Federal Bureau of  Investigation, sent funds overseas using the money transfer  business they owned in the north Italian town of Brescia.

Shortly before the Mumbai attacks, the two men transferred  money to pay the Internet phone calls of individuals in direct  contact with the militants, the statement said.

The 10 gunmen attacked several targets in the western Indian  city last year including two plush hotels and a Jewish centre.  The incident frayed already tense ties between nuclear-armed  neighbours India and Pakistan.

Two other Pakistani citizens were arrested in the  investigation, accused of links to illegal people trafficking.