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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bin Laden's driver denies charges | Bin Laden's driver denies charges |
| (30 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 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. | The US considers the prisoners to be enemy combatants, not entitled to the legal protection given to soldiers and civilians. |
| Mr Hamdan, who was captured in Afghanistan in 2001, 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. | His trial is expected to last for at least three weeks. |
| Jury of officers | |
| 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 said. | |
| The trial judge, Navy Captain Keith Allred, began proceedings by ruling that some of the evidence obtained by interrogators while Mr Hamdan was still in Afghanistan would not be allowed during the trial. | |
| "This military commission is assembled," he said after the jury pool was sworn in. | |
| "You must make your determination whether or not he is guilty based solely on the evidence presented here in court and the instructions I will give you. | |
| "You must impartially hear the evidence." | |
| The trial jury is being selected from a pool of 13 US military officers and must comprise at least five members. | The trial jury is being selected from a pool of 13 US military officers and must comprise at least five members. |
| The verdict will require a two-thirds majority. | |
| 'Credible evidence' | |
| 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. |
| He was captured at a roadblock in Afghanistan during the US-led invasion in 2001, two months after the 9/11 attacks on America. | |
| Prosecutors allege that he had two surface-to-air missiles in his car. | |
| 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. |
| Mr Hamdan's defence lawyers have argued that the statements were tainted by what have been called "coercive techniques", and he was not advised of his right against self-incrimination. | |
| 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. |