This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6706701.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Sydney terror accused deny guilt Sydney terror accused deny guilt
(about 3 hours later)
Nine men arrested in Australia's largest counter-terrorism operation have pleaded not guilty to charges of plotting an attack in Sydney.Nine men arrested in Australia's largest counter-terrorism operation have pleaded not guilty to charges of plotting an attack in Sydney.
The Muslims accused allegedly planned an attack to advance a "political, religious or ideological cause". The men, who are all Muslims, are accused of allegedly planning an attack to advance a "political, religious or ideological cause".
Their lawyers insist they are innocent, and that chemicals found at their homes were for household or industrial use.Their lawyers insist they are innocent, and that chemicals found at their homes were for household or industrial use.
The accused could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. They will face trial in February 2008. Their trial is set to begin in February 2008.
If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison.
'Chemical stockpile''Chemical stockpile'
Some of the men wore Islamic dress in court.Some of the men wore Islamic dress in court.
They smiled and waved to supporters amid tight security at New South Wales Supreme Court, in Sydney, but refused to stand to enter their pleas for religious reasons.They smiled and waved to supporters amid tight security at New South Wales Supreme Court, in Sydney, but refused to stand to enter their pleas for religious reasons.
Earlier this year, prosecutors accused the men of stockpiling chemicals that can be used to make bombs and downloading bomb-making instructions from the internet.Earlier this year, prosecutors accused the men of stockpiling chemicals that can be used to make bombs and downloading bomb-making instructions from the internet.
Profile: Abdul Nacer BenbrikaProfile: Abdul Nacer Benbrika
The suspects were allegedly devotees of radical Muslim cleric, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr, who is sympathetic to Osama bin Laden.The suspects were allegedly devotees of radical Muslim cleric, Abdul Nacer Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr, who is sympathetic to Osama bin Laden.
The nine - Mohammed Ali Elomar, Mazen Touma, Abdul Rakib Hasan, Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Khaled Sharrouf, Mirsad Mulahalilovic, Omar Baladjam and Mohammed Jamal - were arrested in a series of pre-dawn raids in Sydney and Melbourne in November 2005.The nine - Mohammed Ali Elomar, Mazen Touma, Abdul Rakib Hasan, Khaled Cheikho, Moustafa Cheikho, Khaled Sharrouf, Mirsad Mulahalilovic, Omar Baladjam and Mohammed Jamal - were arrested in a series of pre-dawn raids in Sydney and Melbourne in November 2005.
Police have accused them of trying to inflict maximum damage in Australia as part of a holy war because they believed their religion was under attack.Police have accused them of trying to inflict maximum damage in Australia as part of a holy war because they believed their religion was under attack.
Among the alleged targets was Australia's only nuclear research reactor, on the outskirts of Sydney.Among the alleged targets was Australia's only nuclear research reactor, on the outskirts of Sydney.
The men were detained after the Australian government passed new anti-terrorism legislation that making it easier to prosecute suspects allegedly involved in the early stages of planning an attack.The men were detained after the Australian government passed new anti-terrorism legislation that making it easier to prosecute suspects allegedly involved in the early stages of planning an attack.