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Suspected al Qaeda 'media chief' rejects U.S. court
Osama bin Laden's suspected "media director" rejected U.S. terrorism court proceedings against him and renewed his allegiance to the al Qaeda leader on Wednesday in a hearing marred by technical flaws in a new Guantanamo courtroom.With the lights momentarily out due to a power failure in the windowless military courtroom set up to try Guantanamo prisoners, Al Hamza Ahmad Suliman al Bahlul declined to enter a plea at his arraignment on three terrorism-related charges. He had earlier held up a handwritten "boycott" sign and declined to answer when asked whether he was rejecting his military attorney, though in a lengthy statement to the court he indicated he would not contest the charges against him. "I am not going to say I'm not from al Qaeda," Bahlul said. "We will continue in our jihad and nothing is going to stop us." Bahlul, who is from Yemen, was charged with conspiracy, solicitation to commit murder and providing material support for terrorism. He was accused of preparing a propaganda video glorifying the attack on the American destroyer Cole, preparing the videotaped will of Sept. 11 ringleader Mohamed Atta, and operating computer and communications gear for bin Laden. "I am renewing my allegiance to Sheikh Osama bin Laden," said Bahlul, who wore a beard and loose green shirt as he sat at the corner of the defense table, with two military bailiffs behind him. The hearing at the U.S. naval base in southeastern Cuba was marred by audio-visual failures and the power outage that for several minutes darkened the courtroom, which was completed earlier this year as part of a $12 million court complex built to handle a wave of trials expected to begin later this month. The session continued in the dark, as Bahlul was asked whether he wished to enter a plea. "Apparently not," said the judge, Army Col. Peter Brownback. Posted by: Fred 2008-05-08 |
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