Lawyers for Moussaoui Say Client is Incompetent to Plead Guilty

Lawyers for the only person charged in the United States in connection with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks say their client is not competent to plead guilty.

The lawyers submitted their filing Friday, hours before their client, Zacarias Moussaoui, was to appear at a hearing outside Washington, in Alexandria, Virginia. He had indicated he would like to plead guilty then.

Charges against Mr. Moussaoui include conspiracy to commit terrorism, destroy aircraft and murder government employees. He could face the death penalty.

He is believed to have been an intended September 11 hijacker, or to have participated in a second wave of attacks. He was arrested on immigration violations before the September 2001 attacks.

Earlier Friday, Spain began the trial of 24 suspected al-Qaida members, including three with alleged links to the September 11 attacks.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.