First prisoners charged at Guantanamo Bay
Two suspected al-Qaeda terrorists – currently being held at the US Navy’s Guantanamo prison camp in Cuba – have been charged with conspiracy to commit war crimes.
They are charged with “wilfully and knowingly” conspiring with Osama bin Laden to cause terror and murder, attack civilians, and destroy property.
The US has ordered them to stand trial before the first US military tribunals convened since World War Two.
Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi, of Sudan, is accused of being an accountant and weapons smuggler for al-Qaeda; Ali Hamza Ahmed Sulayman al Bahlul, of Yemen, is accused of being a propagandist for bin Laden, who made videos depicting and glorifying the deaths of American soldiers.
Although US president George Bush has authorised the death penalty for suspects convicted by military tribunals, it is unlikely that prosecutors will ask for capital punishment for these two suspects.
But the two could face life in prison if convicted.
The Pentagon has promised “full and fair” trials.
The camp houses around 650 foreign terrorist suspects.
