US praises NL help in terrorist trial

Tuesday 30 January 2007

Dutch terrorist suspect Wesam al Delaema has pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges at a federal court in the US. Al Delaema, who was extradited from the Netherlands at the weekend, appeared before a US court on Monday.

He is accused of involvement in an attack on US soldiers in Iraq in 2003. Al Delaema claims he was in Iraq for a wedding but was kidnapped and forced to film bombs being placed along a road along which US troops were expected.

During Monday’s hearing, the US authorities praised the Netherlands’ willingness to co-operate in bringing Al Delaema to trial. The Dutch help was 'invaluable,' said FBI chief Joseph Persichini.

Al Dehaema will be the first foreign national to be tried in a US court for alleged terrorism during the uprising. He faces a maximum term of life but will be allowed to sit out his sentence in a Dutch jail.

© DutchNews.nl

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