US Fails To Produce Bin Al-Shibh
Abdelghani Mzoudi, the second suspect to be tried for involvement in the attacks, was cleared of all charges of accessory to murder and membership in Al-Qaida.Prosecutors claim that Mzoudi was part of a tight-knit Hamburg Al-Qaida cell that included Ramzi Bin Al-Shibh and suspected ringleader Mohammed Atta, along with two other of the hijackers.
Defense lawyers for Mzoudi have repeatedly said that evidence reportedly given by Ramzi Bin Al-Shibh, who is regarded as a top Al-Qaida operative, to his US captors could clear their client however US authorities have flatly rejected court requests to allow Bin Al-Shibh to testify in Germany or via video conference or to use his evidence.
Prosecutors blamed the acquittal on the Bush administration. “They must have their reasons, which they did not communicate to us,” said the chief federal prosecutor, Kay Nehm, The Associated Press reported. “I find this conduct by the United States incomprehensible.”