The first suspect transferred from Guantanamo military prison to face a US civilian trial was found not guilty on all but one charge in the 1998 African embassy bombings yesterday in a setback to President Barack Obama's plans for trying terrorism suspects.
Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani (36), a Tanzanian from Zanzibar, had been accused of conspiring in the 1998 al-Qaeda bomb attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people.
The jury, which deliberated for nearly five days, found him guilty of one relatively minor charge of conspiracy to damage or destroy US property with explosives. He faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life.
US attorney Preet Bharara said he would seek life in prison for Ghailani at his sentencing on January 25th.
Ghailani was cleared of 276 murder and attempted murder counts, along with four other conspiracy charges. It was a rare defeat for the US Attorney's Office in New York, which has a near perfect record in prosecuting terrorism cases.
Ghailani's trial was being watched closely as a test of Mr Obama's approach to handling the 174 terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a self-professed mastermind of the September 11th attacks on the United States by al-Qaeda.
Mr Obama has vowed to close the US prison at Guantanamo Bay amid international condemnation of the treatment of detainees, but he has run into political resistance at home.
His administration has adopted an approach that favors military tribunals in some cases for terrorism suspects and civilian trials in others.
Justice Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, "We respect the jury's verdict and are pleased that Ahmed Ghailani now faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and a potential life sentence for his role in the embassy bombings."
Most Republicans say all terrorism suspects should be tried in military tribunals. "This tragic verdict demonstrates the absolute insanity of the Obama Administration's decision to try al-Qaeda terrorists in civilian courts," said Republican Representative Peter King, in line to chair the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee when his party takes control of the chamber in January.
Reuters