9/11 suspect demands death penalty
Five men are accused of plotting the September 11th terrorist attacks
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Friday, 06, Jun 2008 09:33
One of the men accused of plotting the September 11th terrorist attacks has asked a United States military tribunal to sentence him to death.
Khaled Sheikh Mohammed is currently standing trial at Guantanamo Bay charged with masterminding the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in 2001.
On Thursday, when told he faced the death penalty if found guilty, Mr Mohammed said be welcomed the prospect.
"Yes, this is what I wish, to be a martyr for a long time," he said.
"I will, God willing, have this, by you."
Mr Mohammed, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, Wallid bin Attash and Mustapha al-Hawsawi, are charged with plotting the September 11th attacks which killed around 3,000 people and all face the death penalty if found guilty.
During the first day of their trial yesterday, Mr Mohammed sacked his lawyer and accused US president George Bush of waging a "crusade war" against Iraq and Afghanistan.
Mr Attash also rejected his lawyer in the opening exchanges, claiming: "I am a Muslim and I reject this session. The lawyers will stay here and be available to help me if I need, but I will represent myself."
The five men have been charged by the US authorities of murder, attacking civilians, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, destruction of property, terrorism and material support for terrorism.
The men were transferred to Guantanamo Bay in 2006 after they were all arrested between 2002 and 2003.
Their trial has already draw huge controversy after the US was accused of using torture techniques to exact confessions from the accused.
Earlier this year, the CIA admitted that Mr Mohammed was subject to a torture technique known as water-boarding.
In his confession the 43-year-old admitted being behind the September 11th attacks as well as 30 other terrorist operations against the west.