Death penalty sought for 9/11 detainees

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The United States will seek the death penalty against six suspects in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, an Air Force general said Monday.

Brig. Gen. Thomas Hartmann, Defense Department legal adviser, said the charges include conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, terrorism and material support of terrorists.

The six terrorist suspects held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Mohammed al-Qahtani, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi and Walid bin Attash.

The charges forwarded to the convening authority detail "169 overt acts allegedly committed by the defendants and uncharged co-conspirators," Hartmann said.

Hartmann said prosecutors will determine what evidence will be presented to the judge, who will rule on its admissibility. He said he did not know the fate of information CIA operatives obtained from Mohammed through waterboarding.

"There will be no secret trials. We will make every effort to make everything open," said Hartmann, who added an exception will be when classified information is presented that could compromise national security.

Nearly 3,000 people died in the attacks in New York and Washington, and a thwarted attempt that led to a plane crash in Pennsylvania.