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-News for Wed 27 March and 28 March 2002
US
Seeks Death Penalty Against Moussaoui
VOA
News
28
Mar 2002 16:27 UTC
 
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Zacarias Moussaoui
(File photo) |
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The U.S.
government is seeking the death penalty against Zacarias Moussaoui, the only
person to be charged in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
U.S. Attorney
General John Ashcroft says prosecutors formally filed the charges Thursday at
the court, just outside of Washington. Mr. Ashcroft says capital punishment is
appropriate because of what he called aggravating factors, including the impact
of the crime on thousands of victims from 15 nations.
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| Plane hits world trade center building |
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The four
charges Mr. Moussaoui faces that carry a maximum death penalty include
conspiring to commit terrorist acts, destroying aircraft, using airplanes as
weapons of mass destruction and killing Americans. Mr. Moussaoui was in jail
for alleged visa violations the day of the attacks. But the FBI says it
believes he is linked to the September hijackers and the al-Qaida terrorist
organization.
Mr. Moussaoui's
trial is set to begin in a court in the U.S. state of Virginia, September
30.
The French
Press Agency quotes Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine as expressing regret over
the decision to seek the death penalty against Mr. Moussaoui, who is a French
citizen of Moroccan descent.
The defendant's
mother is quoted as saying her son is a scapegoat.
Some information
for this report provided by AP and AFP.
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