A Sudanese terrorism suspect held by the U.S. military in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has become the latest detainee to declare he will boycott a U.S. military court that will try him for war crimes.
Ibrahim al-Qosi dismissed the U.S. tribunal as a sham during a pre-trial hearing Thursday, saying it deprives him of legal rights. Another Guantanamo detainee made a similar declaration Wednesday.
Qosi has been charged with providing material support for terrorism and conspiracy. Military prosecutors say he served as a personal aide to Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan until being captured by U.S. forces in December, 2001.
Qosi denies the charges. On Thursday, he read a statement praising Bin Laden, saying the al-Qaida leader had achieved a great success in attacking the U.S. on September 11, 2001.
Qosi said the attacks exposed what he called the "hypocrisy" of U.S. claims to be a land of justice.
During the hearing, Qosi rejected the court's offer to provide him with a lawyer, saying he will represent himself. He faces life in prison if convicted.
About 275 men are being held at the Guantanamo prison camp on suspicion of terrorism or links to al-Qaida and the Taliban.
In another development, Guantanamo authorities have stopped a defense lawyer from providing reading materials to a Canadian detainee.
The lawyer says he gave the 21-year-old detainee a manuscript of the film "Lord of the Rings" to try to build trust with his client. The U.S. military says the lawyer violated rules against providing detainees with materials not related their defense.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
