Seattle Muslim to testify at terror trial

NEW YORK, April 27 (UPI) -- A convicted Seattle al-Qaida sympathizer will be the star witness in the trial of an Islamic militant who claims to have killed dozens, prosecutors say.

One-time Seattle hustler and Muslim convert James Ujaama, who pleaded guilty in 2006 to providing aid in the form of computers, cash and fighters to the Taliban government of Afghanistan, is expected to take the stand in New York this week in the terrorism trial of Lebanese-born Swede Oussama Kassir, The Seattle Times reported Monday.

Prosecutors say Kassir flew to Bly, Ore., on the orders of London radical Islamic preacher Abu Hamza Masri in 1999 to meet with Ujaama to set up a U.S. training camp for terrorists. But because Ujaama's preparations didn't meet their expectations, Kassir and Abu Hamza decided to behead him, prosecutors say.

The plan wasn't carried out, but Kassir, who allegedly has claimed he was a bodyguard for Osama bin Laden, faces 12 felony counts, including offering material support to terrorists.

Most of the charges stem from alleged incidents at Bly, and Ujaama for the first time will testify about the small group of militant Muslims he led in Seattle, the Times reported.