U S man pleads guilty to supporting Hamas

ATLANTA, Oct 13 (Reuters) A U S citizen has pleaded guilty in a federal court to providing material support to the militant Palestinian group Hamas, the U S Justice Department said today.

Mohamed Shorbagi, 42, of Rome, Georgia, was charged in August with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

''Shorbagi provided the support through donations to the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development knowing that some or all of the money was in fact destined for Hamas,'' a Justice Department statement said.

The Islamic group, which operates primarily in the West Bank and Gaza, won parliamentary elections in the Palestinian territories in January. The United States designated it a foreign terrorist organisation in 1997.

''This case illustrates that people who illegally support foreign terrorist organisations may be found anywhere in the United States, even in quiet and pleasant places like Rome, Georgia,'' said U S Attorney David E Nahmias in a statement.

Shorbagi entered the plea under an agreement on August 26, which was sealed until today, the Justice Department said.

Under the deal he agreed to the maximum sentence but the government could request it be reduced if it determines that his cooperation ''substantially assists'' in further investigations or prosecutions, it said.

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