Associated Press  --  Arab News

WASHINGTON, 26 February 2004 — The two men charged by the US military with conspiring to commit war crimes as members of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network are not accused of directly attacking Americans.

One is accused of being a propagandist for Osama Bin Laden, the other his paymaster and protector. Both will be ordered to stand trial before the first US military tribunal since World War II. No trial dates have been set.

In announcing the charges Tuesday, the Pentagon ruled out seeking the death penalty but did not say why.

Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud Al Qosi, of Sudan, is alleged to have been an Al-Qaeda accountant and Bin Laden bodyguard, and Ali Hamza Ahmed Sulayman Al Bahlul, of Yemen, was labeled a propagandist for Bin Laden.