Nine Australians plead not guilty to terror charge

Sydney, May 31: Nine Muslim Australians pleaded not guilty in a Sydney court today to preparing to commit a terrorist act in Australia's largest city and will go on trial in February, 2008.

Under tight security in the New South Wales Supreme Court, the men reserved the right to challenge the legality of the charge, court officials said.

The nine are accused of conspiring between July 2004 and November 2005 to plan the detonation of an explosive device or devices or the use of weaponry in Sydney.

The alleged intention was to advance a ''political, religious or ideological cause'' to intimidate the government or the public.

Some of the men wore Islamic robes and smiled and waved at their supporters in court, but they refused to stand to enter their pleas, Australian radio said from the court.

During their committal hearing, the prosecutor said the men possessed large quantities of chemicals and electronic timers which could be used to build explosive devices capable of killing and causing massive damage.

They also had documents in Arabic, with titles such as ''Come In And Learn Bombing'', and ''Security And Intelligence'', which contained extremist and instructional advice targeting embassies and other buildings, said the prosecutor.

Accused are Omar Umar Shariff Baladjam; Khaled Cheikho; Moustafa Cheikho; Mohamed Ali Elomar; Abdul Rakib Hasan; Mohamed Omar Jamal; Mirsad Mulahalilovic; Khaled Sharrouf; and Mazen Touma.

The nine Sydney men have been in a maximum security jail since 2005 when police and security agencies raided homes in Sydney and Melbourne, arresting a total of 18 men. Another nine men face terrorism charges in Melbourne.

Reuters>