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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bin Laden's driver denies charges | Bin Laden's driver denies charges |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| A former driver of Osama Bin Laden has pleaded not guilty at the first war crimes trial to be held in the US prison in Guantanamo Bay. | A former driver of Osama Bin Laden has pleaded not guilty at the first war crimes trial to be held in the US prison in Guantanamo Bay. |
| Yemeni national Salim Hamdan, 37, is accused of conspiracy and supporting terrorism, and faces life in prison if he is convicted. | Yemeni national Salim Hamdan, 37, is accused of conspiracy and supporting terrorism, and faces life in prison if he is convicted. |
| The right of the military tribunal to try him was earlier unsuccessfully challenged by his lawyers. | The right of the military tribunal to try him was earlier unsuccessfully challenged by his lawyers. |
| About 270 suspects remain in detention in Guantanamo Bay. | About 270 suspects remain in detention in Guantanamo Bay. |
| The Bush administration plans to use the military tribunal system to try dozens of Guantanamo inmates. | |
| The US considers the prisoners to be enemy combatants, not entitled to the legal protection given to soldiers and civilians. | |
| Mr Hamdan is the first prisoner to be tried by the US for war crimes since World War II. | |
| His trial is expected to last for at least three weeks. | |
| 'Credible evidence' | |
| Mr Hamdan appeared in court in a khaki prison jumpsuit. | |
| The flowing white robe and headdress he wore at pre-trial hearings had not been cleaned in time for his trial, defence lawyer Charles Swift told The Associated Press. | |
| The trial jury is being selected from a pool of 13 US military officers and must comprise at least five members. | |
| In December, a US military judge said there was credible evidence that Mr Hamdan had served as the al-Qaeda leader's bodyguard, and sometimes picked up and delivered weapons. | In December, a US military judge said there was credible evidence that Mr Hamdan had served as the al-Qaeda leader's bodyguard, and sometimes picked up and delivered weapons. |
| Mr Hamdan has acknowledged working for Bin Laden in Afghanistan from 1997 to 2001 for $200 (£99) a month, but denies being part of al-Qaeda or taking part in any attacks. | Mr Hamdan has acknowledged working for Bin Laden in Afghanistan from 1997 to 2001 for $200 (£99) a month, but denies being part of al-Qaeda or taking part in any attacks. |
| His lawyers have tried to halt the trial on grounds of legality. | His lawyers have tried to halt the trial on grounds of legality. |
| In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that detainees had to be able to challenge their detention in civilian courts. | In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that detainees had to be able to challenge their detention in civilian courts. |
| But a judge ruled last week that the military tribunal could begin as scheduled on Monday without contradicting the Supreme Court. | But a judge ruled last week that the military tribunal could begin as scheduled on Monday without contradicting the Supreme Court. |