Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 7, 1995 TAG: 9502070085
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Cutting a deal with prosecutors who had called him the ringleader, Siddig Ibrahim Siddig Ali told a federal judge he was sorry for his involvement in a plot that ``does not reflect Islam at all.''
Siddig Ali said Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman had given him a fatwa, or religious order, to kill Egypt's president and to bomb the United Nations and bridges and tunnels linking New York City with New Jersey.
The plea halted the biggest terrorism trial in U.S. history at least temporarily, as defense lawyers for the sheik and 10 other defendants scrambled to see if it was possible to salvage the proceedings. Opening statements began last week.
The government alleged the conspiracy included plans to blow up the United Nations; FBI headquarters in New York; and the Holland and Lincoln tunnels and George Washington Bridge, used daily by tens of thousands of commuters.
Prosecutors contend the only two acts carried out by the defendants and other unindicted co-conspirators were the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, which killed six and injured more than 1,000, and the assassination of militant Rabbi Meir Kahane. One of the defendants in the terror trial, El Sayyid Nosair, was convicted in state court of weapons violations in the Kahane slaying but acquitted of murder.
Siddig Ali said he and government informer Emad Salem originally planned to bomb ``military targets.'' But ``after hearing a sermon by the sheik regarding the United Nations, I asked the sheik for a fatwa to attack the United Nations, and I was told by the sheik it was permissible.''
Siddig Ali said Salem had told him he had been making bombs ``at Nosair's request'' and Nosair had told him to kidnap Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger.
He concluded his speech with an apology, saying he wanted to ``send a clear message to all Muslims and non-Muslims all over the world that the acts that I personally was involved in with others does not represent Islam and does not reflect Islam at all, because God did not tell us to kill innocent people for his sake.''
Siddig Ali, 34, of Jersey City, N.J., signed a cooperation agreement with the government, though prosecutors did not say whether he had agreed to testify against the others.
Judge Michael Mukasey told Siddig Ali he would face life in prison unless he followed through on his promise of ``substantial cooperation.''
Siddig Ali cooperated with prosecutors briefly last year but the deal broke down. He asked to reopen negotiations the week before opening statements, prosecutors said in a letter to defense lawyers.
Lynne Stewart, lawyer for Abdel-Rahman, called the development a ``complete surprise.''
``I think we do feel we have been sandbagged,'' she said. ``Mr. Siddig Ali is indeed going to dance with the government.''
The trial was called off for the day so the defense could determine its next step.
by CNB