Americans detained in Pakistan deny terror plot

[unhappycamper]

Americans detained in Pakistan deny terror plot
By Asif Shahzad - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jan 4, 2010 7:05:41 EST

SARGODHA, Pakistan — Five Americans detained in Pakistan denied Monday they planned to carry out terrorist attacks, as a court granted police two weeks to prepare terrorism charges against them, their defense lawyer said.

The young Muslim men from the Washington, D.C., area were arrested in early December in the eastern Pakistani city of Sargodha in a case that has spurred fears that Westerners are traveling to Pakistan to join militant groups. Pakistani police have said they plan to seek life sentences for the men under the country’s anti-terrorism law.

The men, aged 19 to 25, denied they had ties with al-Qaida or other militant groups during a court appearance Monday in Sargodha, said their attorney, Ameer Abdullah Rokri.

“They told the court that they did not have any plan to carry out any terrorist act inside or outside Pakistan,” said Rokri. “They said that they only intended to travel to Afghanistan to help their Muslim brothers who are in trouble, who are bleeding and who are being victimized by Western forces.”

Rokri did not say whether the men planned to fight coalition troops in Afghanistan or simply provide humanitarian assistance. But one of the men indicated they had planned to wage holy war.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/ap_pakistan_terror_suspects_010410/