Alleged 9/11 Conspirator Evicted From Court

The sole conspirator brought to trial in the September 11 terror attacks was removed from the Virginia court that is to decide whether he will live or die yesterday after he disrupted proceedings by shouting "I am al-Qaida".

The outburst came within the first minute of the sentencing trial for Zacarias Moussaoui, who has pleaded guilty to conspiring against the US but has denied any knowledge of the September 11 plot.

The court could sentence Moussaoui to death, or it could sentence him to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During his earlier appearances before the federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, Moussaoui has had frequent arguments with the US district judge, Leonie Brinkema, as well as with his own lawyers.

As jury selection got under way yesterday, Moussaoui denounced the judge and his own defence team, and said: "This trial is a circus." He was led from the court with his hands on his head. He returned an hour later, only to be ejected once more when he stood up beside his lawyers and announced: "I do not want them to represent me."

Yesterday's proceedings were an attempt to sift through the pool of 500 potential jurors to select the panel that will decide whether he should be condemned or spend the rest of his life in jail.

The 10th floor courtroom where the case will be heard is in an area with a heavy concentration of military personnel and civil servants.

Yesterday, potential jurors were handed a 49-page questionnaire which asked about their feelings on the attacks, and towards Muslims and Arabs in general. Sample questions included: "Do you believe Islam endorses violence to a greater or lesser extent than other religions?"

The process of jury selection is expected to last a month, after which the court will consider Moussaoui's fate.

The prosecution argues he could have prevented the attacks by telling the authorities about al-Qaida's plans. Its case hinges on proving that Moussaoui, who was arrested before the attacks, lied to investigators about his knowledge of the September 11 plot.