GUANTANAMO BAY - A suspect at a US military hearing at the Guantanamo Bay prison Thursday lauded Osama bin Laden saying the terror mastermind had exposed American "hypocrisy."
"I think he has succeeded again enormously in exposing your hypocrisy ... that you are the land of justice and law," said Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud Al-Qosi, who is said to have been bin Laden's personal chauffeur.
He was appearing before a US military commission at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba where some 275 terror suspects are being held.
"The whole world had a headache from your hypocrisy that you are the land of justice," Qosi said. "Real justice and equality are great principles. Even children understand that."
But judge, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Nancy Paul, cut Qosi short, barring him from reading the rest of his statement saying he was in danger of incriminating himself ahead of his still unscheduled trial.
"For your own safety ... I will not allow you to speak any further," said Paul.
Qosi faces charges of providing material support for acts of terrorism and conspiring with terrorists bin Laden. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
Clad in a white Muslim skullcap and black-rimmed reading glasses, Qosi asked the judge repeatedly to let him finish the remarks he said he had prepared since his last appearance before the commission four years ago.
The Sudanese-born detainee is said to have been a cook, payroll clerk as well as a personal driver for bin Laden before his capture by Pakistani forces in the Tora Bora region of Afghanistan in December 2001.
Qosi, 47, was among the first detainees to appear before the commission when it convened for the first time in 2004.
Ahead of his arraignment Thursday however, he maintained he was not involved in any terror plots including the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon which were claimed by Al-Qaeda.
And Qosi did not admit to taking part in Al-Qaeda attacks.
Several times during the 70-minute hearing, Paul asked Qosi if he wanted either his court appointed counselor or a civilian lawyer to represent him.
But he replied he preferred to represent himself.
"I do not recognize this court or recognize the justice of this court," said Qosi, adding he would not even attend further sessions of the commission.
str/jkb
04/10/2008 20:33 GMT