Mohamed Harkat feels like he's starting over from scratch. The Algerian-born Ottawa resident, who has been fighting to clear his name of ties to al-Qaida, was served notice Friday that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has declassified portions of its case against him. The government filed new security certificates against Harkat and four other men accused of having terrorist ties, following new legislation that came into effect Friday. SEEKS 'FAIR TRIAL'

CSIS presented a 105-page document to Canada's Federal Court, outlining charges against Harkat that would make him "inadmissible on security grounds" and therefore subject to deportation. "I don't have any things to hide," insisted Harkat from his Herongate home, where he remains under house arrest. "All we've been asking for is a fair trial where everything is open. It's very hard for me to defend myself if somebody puts evidence in front of a judge that I haven't even seen. There is no opportunity to defend myself." On Friday, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson appointed 13 special advocates to "protect the interests and rights" of those who are subject to security certificates.Among those named by the government is Toronto-based lawyer Paul Copeland, who previously served as Harkat's legal counsel. "We felt we trusted Paul, but we don't know if he'll be our special advocate or if he'll be part of our legal counsel," said Sophie Harkat, who has been a vocal defender of her husband. Mohamed Harkat vehemently denied the evidence presented in the CSIS document, saying it was taken out of context. CSIS alleges that in February 1998, Harkat stated that he had to keep a "low profile" to gain landed immigrant status in Canada. NO CONTEXT

"Low profile for what?" demanded Harkat. "On what basis would I keep a high profile? I came to this country to work and start a family and build my future." Sophie Harkat called the CSIS document "more allegations, no evidence." "To me, they really haven't built a case," she said. "Where are the signs here that point to somebody being a terrorist?" CSIS also alleges that Harkat claimed he would be "ready," which the agency concluded "meant that Harkat would be prepared to undertake jihad in support of Islamic terrorism" once his Canadian citizenship was secured. "He's ready to start his life in Canada," said Sophie Harkat. "That's an interpretation by CSIS that somebody overheard and they filled in the blanks. They're just parts of a discussion -- they don't know who he was even talking to." Mohamed Harkat said the allegations are "another weight added onto what we're going through." "It's like a cancer," he said. "It starts killing me from inside and it's growing and now my whole family is suffering." --- HARKAT FILE

The declassified CSIS dossier on Mohamed Harkat, alleges: - He was a member of the Egyptian terrorist organization Al Gamma al Islamiya, which under the leadership of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman organized the 1993 World Trade Centre bombing. - He entered Canada with a false Saudi Arabian passport. - He used methodologies typical of "sleepers" including false passports, aliases, keeping a low profile and concealing his links to extremists. - He is a sleeper agent of the bin Laden network. - He lied in interviews with the agency when he claimed he had never been in Afghanistan supporting Islamic extremism. - He stated he had to keep a "low profile" before gaining status in Canada. - He lied to the agency about his alias Abu Muslim. - He maintains links to the financial structure of the bin Laden network. - He acknowledged support for the Front islamique du salut (FIS) which was later outlawed by the Algerian government. - He assisted Islamic extremists to gain entry to Canada. - He associated with top lieutenants of Osama bin Laden. Copyright © 2008 CANOE.CA All rights reserved