Bin Laden planning caliphate

2005-05-23 20:23

Amman - An alleged militant on trial for a terror conspiracy targeting the US and Israeli embassies claimed on Monday that terror masterminds Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would soon set up a Muslim caliphate state.

Abed al-Tahawi's made the statement in brief remarks to reporters before the military court convened to hear the prosecution sum up its case in his trial.

"Although they accuse them of being terrorists, the heroes Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab Zarqawi will come back to the scene soon to set up an Islamic caliphate state," he said.

Al-Tahawi, 50, and 15 other men - including one at large who being tried in absentia - are charged with conspiring to carry out terrorist attacks and possessing automatic rifles.

If convicted on both counts, the defendants could face the death penalty.

Saudi-born bin Laden has long advocated the creation of a caliphate, where Islam would be the source of the law and the state ruled by a religious leader, known as the caliph - a title taken by the successors of the prophet Muhammad.

Al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian, is al-Qaeda's top man in Iraq.

He is believed to be directing anti-US attacks and kidnappings in Iraq, and his group has beheaded several hostages.

He has been sentenced to death in Jordan for the 2002 killing of a US aid worker.

- AP