14 suspects in Limburg attack refuse to enter pleas

Fourteen militants allegedly involved in an attack on a French oil tanker, including a man sought by the United States, refused to enter their pleas yesterday as their trial began under tight security.

The 14, some of whom are believed to be linked to Osama bin Laden's Al Qaida terror network, said they had not had a chance to hire lawyers and would only offer pleas in the presence of a defense team.

The defendants charged that they were abruptly referred to trial yesterday. It was not immediately possible to verify their claim.

Key among the defendants is Fawaz Al Rabeiee, a Yemeni sought by the FBI. A 15th suspect was being tried in absentia.

The court heard the prosecutor's list of charges that included the planning and carrying out of the October 6, 2002, suicide attack on the Limburg, which killed one Bulgarian crew member and caused 90,000 barrels of oil to spill into the Gulf of Aden. The group was also charged with carrying out the November 2002 attack on a helicopter carrying employees of the US oil company Hunt Corporation, the attempted assassination of US ambassador Edmund Hull and the killing of a Yemeni security officer.

The prosecution blamed the attacks on the Limburg and the American helicopter on Al Qaida.

The defendants cried "Allah Akbar," or God is great, upon hearing the prosecutor's charges.

Although refusing to plead, one of the men, Mohammed Saeed Al Amari, told the judge that there was "just talk" between him and others about a possible attack on Hull in retaliation for the CIA-operated assassination of Sinan Al Harethi, Al Qaida's chief agent in Yemen, in November 2002.

Another defendant, Qassim Al Rimi, acknowledged that he was assigned to monitor the US embassy in Sanaa. The defendants, who were dressed in blue prison uniforms and were handcuffed behind bars, complained of mistreatment and said they were locked underground at the intelligence headquarters.

Officials from the US Embassy attended the hearing, which was held under tight security.
The court adjourned until Tuesday.

If convicted, the men face from 5 years in prison up to the death penalty.