by Tim Witcher
GUANTANAMO BAY US NAVAL BASE, Cuba, Aug 25 (AFP) - Accused Australian Taliban fighter David Hicks on Wednesday denied war crimes charges when he appeared before a US military tribunal.
Hicks, 29, put on a suit for the first time in his life to meet his father for the first time in five years before being led by military police into the tribunal room to make his plea.
His father, Terry Hicks, said his son had repeated allegations that he was abused while in US military custody in Afghanistan after his capture in late 2001.
"His treatment was not very pleasant in the early stages, the report from the English is correct," Terry Hicks told reporters, referring to a sworn statement by three former British war on terror detainees who said Hicks had been tortured.
Hicks was charged with conspiracy to attack civilians, attempted murder and aiding the enemy by fighting with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
During his appearance, Hicks spoke only to say he was happy with his defence team and later: "Not guilty to all charges."
His defence made motions for the charges to be dismissed and that the military commission was not competent to try the case.
The response of the US military authorities, which are running the controversial commissions, will be announced on November 2 and the full trial is expected to start in January if it goes ahead.
The US military case is that after converting to Islam in 2000, Hicks went to Pakistan where he joined a radical group, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba.
According to the charges, he was sent to Al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, met Osama bin Laden, and joined combat against US and coalition forces before his capture in December 2001.
Hicks, a short stocky figure, had put on weight but was otherwise in good physical health, said his father. The US military provided the suit for the tribunal hearing that his military lawyer, Major Michael Mori, said was the first he had ever worn.
All 585 detainees at Guantanamo Bay US Naval Base in Cuba are normally held in isolation and in shackles.
Terry Hicks and civilian lawyer Josh Draytell said that Hicks was abused while in US military custody in Afghanistan.
"He has been abused in not very pleasant ways, I think it will come out later," Terry Hicks said. "He was not abused here."
Australia asked the US authorities to investigate after claims by three former British inmates that Hicks and another Australian inmate, Mamdouh Habib, were tortured. Hicks was allegedly tied hand-and-foot before being beaten and Habib allegedly dragged around by a chain on his foot.
US authorities have denied there has been any abuse at Guantanamo.
Terry Hicks said his son was more concerned about his "mental side" at the detention camp.
"He said he copes in stages. When there are people there he is OK. When they are gone he starts thinking about it. Two-and-a-half years like that has an effect, he is finding it hard to cope."
The US military said meetings before and after the commission hearing had been arranged at the request of the Australian government.
No soldiers were present but Hicks was wearing leg shackles, officials said.
His lawyers have said a new attempt to launch civil action against the military commissions in US courts was being prepared.
The family and lawyers also hope that Australia will be able to take advantage of any future deal Britain makes with the US government about the return of British detainees.
Four Britons are still held at Guantanamo and the British government has reportedly refused to accept military commissions for its nationals.
The Australian government has faced criticism at home for supporting the US military commission process.
But Australian Prime Minister John Howard said his government would seek Hicks's immediate release if he is acquitted.
Howard, one of Washington's closest allies, said in a radio interview: "I can tell you, if he is found innocent, he will be let go."
On Tuesday, Osama bin Laden's personal driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a 34-year-old Yemeni, was formally charged in the first hearing of the new military commissions.
A Yemeni and a Sudanese are due to face similar pre-trial hearings on Thursday and Friday.