Original author: Jim Brown
Source: Canadian Press via Yahoo News
URL: [link]
Date: August 26, 2007


OTTAWA (CP) - The lawyer for an accused terrorist living in Canada is demanding access to Abu Zubaydah, a key al-Qaida operative held at Guantanamo Bay, to find out first-hand what Zubaydah knows about his client.

Paul Copeland, counsel for Algerian-born Mohamed Harkat, has written to officials in both Ottawa and Washington saying he needs to interview Zubaydah to mount a proper defence of Harkat, who is accused by Canada's secret service of having terrorist ties.

So far U.S. authorities have replied only that the interview request is under consideration and a decision "may take some time." There has been no response from the Canadian government.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service, in previous court proceedings against Harkat, has claimed he was identified by Zubaydah as the operator of a safe house for Islamic militants in Peshawar, Pakistan.

CSIS also claims to have additional evidence - heard behind closed doors by a Federal Court judge but never made public - linking Harkat to Zubaydah.

[ Read the rest ... ]