Miami terror trial for seven under way

MIAMI, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Defense attorneys for seven Miami men on trial on terror charges claim an FBI informant enticed the group with promises of money.

The group known as the Liberty City Seven, so-named because they lived in the low-income area of Miami, were arrested in June 2006 and charged with conspiring to provide ''material support'' to a foreign terrorist organization and to wage war against the U.S. government. The charges also include allegations of plans to Chicago's Sears Tower and FBI buildings in Miami and four other cities, The Miami Herald reported.

In opening statements Tuesday, the defense attorney for the alleged ringleader said two FBI informants were "con men" who ''wrote a script'' and used cash as bait.

Lawyer Ana Jhones said the pair offered as much as $50,000 to help with plans that included poisoning salt shakers in Miami restaurants and bombing buildings.

In turn, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Gregorie told the jury they would hear wiretaps and see video evidence implicating the men.

''This (terror) agreement is clear, ladies and gentlemen," he said. "It's tape-recorded and you are there."

The trial is expected to run throughout the autumn, the report said.