The self-styled mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and four co-defendants told a military judge at Guantanamo they wanted to confess and plead guilty. A note to the judge said the defendants made the decision on 4 December, which was the day Barack Obama was elected to become the next US president... Several of the defendants had said at previous hearings that they welcomed martyrdom, and they may have felt that opportunity slipping away with Obama's election.
The self-styled mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and four co-defendants told a military judge at Guantanamo they wanted to confess and plead guilty.
A note to the judge said the defendants made the decision on 4 December, which was the day Barack Obama was elected to become the next US president...
Several of the defendants had said at previous hearings that they welcomed martyrdom, and they may have felt that opportunity slipping away with Obama's election.
Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-defendants have said they want to plead guilty at a pre-trial hearing at Guantanamo Bay. But Mr Mohammed said he would postpone entering his plea until an investigation into the mental state of two of his co-defendants was complete. Military Judge Col Stephen Henley had ordered the probe into whether the two were mentally competent to stand trial. The five men face death sentences if convicted of roles in the 2001 attacks. Correspondents say no trial date has been set and there seems little chance that one will begin before President-elect Barack Obama takes office. He has said he is opposed to the military tribunal and has pledged to close down the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay.
Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four co-defendants have said they want to plead guilty at a pre-trial hearing at Guantanamo Bay.
But Mr Mohammed said he would postpone entering his plea until an investigation into the mental state of two of his co-defendants was complete.
Military Judge Col Stephen Henley had ordered the probe into whether the two were mentally competent to stand trial.
The five men face death sentences if convicted of roles in the 2001 attacks.
Correspondents say no trial date has been set and there seems little chance that one will begin before President-elect Barack Obama takes office.
He has said he is opposed to the military tribunal and has pledged to close down the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay.
