'It is time for jihad'
2007-02-16 16:02
Istanbul - A Syrian al-Qaeda militant on
trial for masterminding suicide bomb attacks on Jewish and
British targets that killed more than 60 people in Istanbul in
2003 called on supporters on Friday to wage a holy war.
Louai al Sakka is charged with planning and securing finance
for the truck bombings of two synagogues, the British consulate
and a branch of HSBC bank in November 2003 - one of Turkey's
worst episodes of peacetime violence.
A Turkish cell in the al-Qaeda network claimed responsibility for the attacks.
"We are close to victory. The time for jihad (holy war) has
come, but don't worry about me. I will get out, then I will once
again join your jihad," Sakka said in court ahead of a final
verdict.
Nine out of some 70 people on trial on charges related to
the bombings were in court. The court is expected to deliver its
verdict later on Friday on at least some of the defendants.
Security was tight around the courthouse, with
sharp-shooters on roof-tops and armoured personnel carriers
stationed outside.
Prosecutors have sought life sentences for several key
defendants, including Sakka, charged in Turkey's highest-profile
trial since the 1999 conviction of Kurdish guerrilla leader
Abdullah Ocalan.
Sakka, who cracked jokes with his co-defendants, has pleaded
not guilty.
Security sources have said Sakka, a bomb-making expert, was
the top figure in Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network in Turkey.
One of the defendants, Baki Yigit, told the court on
Thursday that he had met bin Laden in Afghanistan.
Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member, is seen as a prime target
for radical Islamist movements who loathe the European Union
candidate's secular political system and its close links with
the United States, Israel and Europe.