[JURIST] The trial of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali [JURIST news archive], an American citizen accused of plotting to kill President Bush, begins Monday in federal court in Virginia. Abu Ali has pleaded not guilty [JURIST report] to a nine-count indictment [PDF] on charges of conspiring to kill the president [JURIST report] and providing resources and support to al Qaeda. Abu Ali was arrested in June 2003 and has made statements admitting to a plot against Bush and also to having ties to an al Qaeda cell. US District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee last week denied [PDF opinion; JURIST report] Abu Ali's motion to suppress the statements, which Abu Ali claimed were the result of torture [JURIST report] at the hands of Saudi Arabian domestic security police. In allowing Abu Ali's confession, Lee called into question Abu Ali's accusations of abuse, noting that "the court is left with lingering questions concerning the credibility of Mr Abu Ali and his claim that he was tortured." Earlier this month, the Saudi Arabian government denied Abu Ali's claims of torture [JURIST report]. Reuters has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

• Federal judge allows alleged torture confession in Bush assassination case
• Saudi Arabia denies torturing man accused of plotting Bush assassination
• Student accused in Bush assassination plot alleges Saudi torture led to confession
• Taped confession of Bush assassination plot suspect shown in federal court
• Federal judge orders al Qaeda suspect to produce evidence in Saudi torture claim
• Federal judge says Bush plot suspect can be examined for signs of torture