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| Key 9/11 suspect charges dropped | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Pentagon has dropped charges against a Saudi citizen alleged to have been the "20th hijacker" in the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US. | The Pentagon has dropped charges against a Saudi citizen alleged to have been the "20th hijacker" in the 11 September 2001 attacks on the US. |
| Mohammad al-Qahtani was one of six Guantanamo Bay inmates charged with murder and war crimes in February. | |
| The Pentagon said the case against the other five defendants would proceed. | The Pentagon said the case against the other five defendants would proceed. |
| Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the suspects in a case before military tribunals at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay. | Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the suspects in a case before military tribunals at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay. |
| 'Torture' | |
| A Pentagon official said the charges against Mohammad al-Qahtani had been dropped "without prejudice", meaning they could be reinstated. | A Pentagon official said the charges against Mohammad al-Qahtani had been dropped "without prejudice", meaning they could be reinstated. |
| Lawyers for the defendant say they believe the charges were dropped because he "was tortured" under interrogation. | |
| The decision could have implications for the other five suspects, whose lawyers claim that similar treatment was meted out to them, the BBC's Adam Brookes reports from Washington. | |
| Authorities say Mr Qahtani failed to take part in the 9/11 attacks because he was denied entry into the US by an immigration official. | |
| In 2006, he recanted accusations he had made against fellow detainees of having links to al-Qaeda. | In 2006, he recanted accusations he had made against fellow detainees of having links to al-Qaeda. |
| His lawyer told Time magazine the statements had been extracted under torture. | His lawyer told Time magazine the statements had been extracted under torture. |
| The Saudi was reportedly submitted to stress positions, sleep deprivation and humiliation at Guantanamo. |