Alleged al-Qaeda member Abu Anas al-Libi pleads not guilty

                    

From CCTV: 

An alleged senior al-Qaeda member, Abu Anas al-Libi has made a brief court appearance in New York, on charges related to the 1998 bombings of two U-S embassies in Africa. U-S Special Forces captured al-Libi in Libya earlier this month.

The "not guilty" plea came in this Manhattan federal courthouse, which has become the scene of numerous such hearings in the past two decades.
U-S federal prosecutors say Abu Anas al-Libi helped plan and conduct surveillance for the 1998 U-S embassy attacks in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people.

                     

"We know that Mr. al-Libi planned and helped to execute plots that killed hundreds of people, a whole lot of Americans. And we have strong evidence of that. And he will be brought to justice." Said Barack Obama, U.S. president.

Al-Libi is 49-years-old and considered a highly-placed al Qaeda operative. Under indictment for more than a decade, he was captured at his home in Tripoli earlier this month.While now in the hands of civilian authorities, al-Libi was held and interrogated aboard this U-S Navy warship for nearly a week.

"He’s about as important an asset as the United States could want to have in custody right now because he’s been involved -- allegedly involved -- in the conflict between al Qaeda and the United States since before 9/11. And therefore he can tell us presumably what has happened to al Qaeda, where it’s active, what the chains of command are, what the money flow is, what potential next attacks are." Said Karen Greenberg, director of National Security Center.

The Obama administration has opted to try terror suspects like al-Libi in civilian courts rather than subject them to military tribunals at the U-S base in Guantanamo, Cuba.

"They’ve been collecting facts on this case for 15 years. And this is a case in which there is substantial evidence. And it should play out in a way that’s much more recognizable and non-secret and not guesswork than many other cases that we see." Said Karen Greenberg, director of National Security Center.

" Al-Libi kept his hands folded in his lap while a judge read the charges against him. He appeared somewhat frail, keeping with news reports that al-Libi had refused food aboard the U-S-S San Antonio. Wearing sweatpants and a black sweatshirt, he was escorted out of the courtroom. He’s scheduled to make his next appearance later this month. Stephen Fee, CCTV, New York."