Jordanians 'planned to kill Bush'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6427689.stm

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Three men have gone on trial in Jordan, accused of plotting to assassinate US President George W Bush when he visited the country last November.

The three appeared in the state security court in the capital Amman. They did not enter a plea.

They were arrested on 28 November, the day before Mr Bush arrived in Jordan.

They also face charges of conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts. Prosecutors allege they plotted to bomb the United States and Danish embassies in Jordan.

If convicted they could face the death penalty.

Two of the men come from Zarqa, the hometown of the former leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed last year.

All three reportedly embrace the extremist Takfiri ideology which regards non-militant Muslims as infidels, says the BBC's Dale Gavlak in Amman.

The men did not enter a plea to the charges because they had just been assigned a court-appointed lawyer.

The trial was adjourned and is set to resume next week.