Prisoner says he fired at U.S. plane

WASHINGTON -- A suspected al-Qaida cell leader in the custody of a foreign government has acknowledged firing a missile at a U.S. military plane in Saudi Arabia in recent months, a U.S. official told the Associated Press.

The man, who is Sudanese, acknowledged shooting a shoulder-fired SA-7 surface-to-air missile at an American plane taking off from Prince Sultan Air Base, south of the Saudi capital of Riyadh, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The man was believed to have been captured in Sudan, but isn't in Sudanese custody.

In May, Saudi security guards found the missile launch tube about two miles from the nearest runway, inside the base's outer perimeter fence and near an inner fence.

No aircraft had reported detecting an incoming missile, however, and it was unclear when the Soviet-made missile had been fired.

The discovery prompted the FBI to issue warnings to U.S. police departments in late May.

Doctor: Bomb suspect confessed while sedated

BOSTON -- A man charged with trying to blow up a jetliner with explosives hidden in his shoes was still feeling the effects of Valium when he was questioned soon after his arrest, a doctor testified Wednesday.

The testimony came during a hearing on a request from Richard C. Reid's lawyers to throw out a confession he allegedly made to FBI agents.

They argue Reid was still under the influence of sedatives he was injected with after being overpowered by crew and passengers aboard the American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami three days before Christmas.

Prosecutors maintain the sedatives had little or no effect on Reid during questioning. The British citizen faces eight charges, including attempted murder and attempted destruction of an aircraft.

Testifying for the defense Wednesday, Dr. Mark Dershwitz said the Valium had not worn off by the time Reid was read his rights and questioned, about eight hours after the injection.

Dershwitz, a clinical anesthesiologist at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, Mass., said he based his conclusion on witnesses who said Reid had slurred speech and difficulty holding up his head.

Also . . .

MORE DETAINEES AT GUANTANAMO: Thirty-four detainees accused of links to Afghanistan's fallen Taliban regime or the al-Qaida terrorist network arrived Wednesday at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The arrivals bring the number of detainees being held at the remote outpost to 468.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright