Spanish judge formally charges 35 for 9/11 link
( 2003-09-18 10:06) (Agencies)
A Spanish judge on Wednesday
formally charged 35 men, including al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and a
journalist for Arab TV network Al Jazeera, with involvement in the Sept. 11
attacks on the United States.
As part of his investigation into an al Qaeda cell operating in Spain, High
Court Judge Baltasar Garzon called for Interpol to arrest bin Laden and
extradite him to Spain, where he says there was evidence the Sept. 11 plot was
hatched.
Spain has already arrested a number of suspects it says were involved in the
attacks. Garzon said they should remain in jail. U.S.-led forces have not found
bin Laden since the attacks killed more than 3,000 people on Sept. 11, 2001.
Among those charged was Tayseer Alouni, an Al Jazeera correspondent who
interviewed bin Laden shortly after Sept. 11. Syrian-born Alouni was arrested
this month and was ordered to remain in prison without bail pending trial.
Also charged was Imad Eddim Barakat Yarkas, alias Abu Dahdah, suspected by
authorities of heading an al Qaeda cell in Spain and has already been detained
by authorities.
Garzon, who came to international attention with a failed attempt to
extradite and try former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet, said all of
the accused already held in Spain would have to testify again on Sept.
24.
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