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Washington: More than six and a half years after devastating suicide attacks against the United States launched the Bush administration's fight against global terrorism, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001, plot is scheduled to appear in a Guantanamo Bay courtroom this morning.
Click here to view the profiles of conspirators (pdf)
The military arraignment is expected to give the public its first glimpse of Khalid Shaikh Mohammad and four alleged September 11 co-conspirators since they were captured years ago, beginning trial proceedings aimed at bringing the alleged Al Qaida terrorists to justice.
Military law experts and those involved in the process believe the September 11 conspiracy case could be among the most important criminal trials in modern US history, with defence attorneys vowing to challenge the untested military commissions and government officials touting the system's fairness.
The Bush administration's effort to try these men has met obstacles at every level, including at the Supreme Court, which put Congress in charge of rewriting the rules two years ago.
The conspiracy case could end up focusing as much on evidence of the suspects' wrongdoing as on the legitimacy of the military commissions themselves, with lawyers challenging their legality, the use of statements obtained via coercive interrogation methods, and rules that allow hearsay evidence.
Despite holding no military trials since September 11, 2001, and securing just one conviction against a Guantanamo Bay detainee via a plea deal last year, military officials are pushing forward this week in the hope of showing the public how the system can give alleged terrorists fair trials and also hold someone accountable for the worst terrorist attack in US history.
Prosecutors are pushing for a September 15 trial date - just days after the seventh anniversary of the attacks and in the stretch run of the presidential campaign. Defence lawyers say that date is far too soon.
Mohammad is the headliner among the five suspects who are alleged to have directly aided, planned or financed the attacks - "high-value" detainees who have been considered the most important captures in global efforts to cripple Al Qaida.
Death penalty
All are charged with offenses that could carry the death penalty.
Walid Bin Attash of Yemen is accused of running an Al Qaida camp in Afghanistan where two hijackers trained. Ramzi Binalshib, also Yemeni, is alleged to have assisted the hijackers in getting flight training and financing.
The Pakistani Ali Abdul Aziz Ali is alleged to have sent $120,000 (Dh440,874) to the hijackers and to have helped them enter the United States, and Mustafa Ahmad Al Hawsawi of Saudi Arabia is accused of helping the hijackers obtain money, Western clothing, traveller's cheques and credit cards.
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