The self-proclaimed mastermind behind the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States made a bid for martyrdom yesterday by declaring his intent to plead guilty on capital charges for alleged war crimes.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has already confessed to plotting the 9/11 attacks and dozens of other acts of terrorism, appeared at a military tribunal alongside a quartet of fellow terrorism suspects being held at the Guantánamo Bay prison camp at a US naval base in Cuba.

In a letter to the judge, the five described how a decision had been taken on November 4, the day Barack Obama was elected, to abandon all efforts at defence and instead ask that their confessions be accepted in full with immediate effect. The request appeared to be designed to accelerate their trials and dare the US Government to impose the death sentence before President Bush leaves office.

Mr Obama has promised to close the Guantánamo Bay camp and scrap the bitterly contested military commissions system with which Mr Bush's Administration has sought to prosecute terror suspects outside the jurisdiction of the US legal system.

Mohammed, who the CIA admits was subjected to water-boarding techniques condemned widely by human rights groups as torture, has previously told tribunals of his desire for martyrdom through execution. He has portrayed himself as a warrior in an epic clash of civilisations, even comparing himself last year to George Washington fighting the British.

The military judge in the case, Colonel Steven Henley, questioned each of the five detainees to ask if they agreed with the statement issued jointly under their name. Mohammed, who has grown a chest-length grey beard during his captivity and yesterday wore a white turban, was asked if he was prepared to enter pleas to the charges against him, and replied abruptly, “Yes”. He added: “We don't want to waste our time with motions. All of you are paid by the US Government. I'm not trusting any American.”

Colonel Henley, who was assigned to the case after the previous judge resigned for undisclosed reasons last month, said that he would not be rushed in to accepting guilty pleas and indicated that formal proceedings may be some way off. Among the unresolved legal questions are whether two of the defendants are mentally competent to stand trial. Mohammed said he was ready to confess but will wait until all five can respond in unison. “We want everyone to plea together,” he said.

Relatives of five victims of the 9/11 attacks sat in the gallery having been chosen by lottery from more than 100 requests from family members who applied to travel to Guantánamo.

Mohammed, a Pakistani, and the other four - Ramzi Binalshibh, Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi, Waleed bin Attash and Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali - were charged earlier this year with conspiring with al-Qaeda to kill civilians. Binalshibh, who is accused of helping to co-ordinate the hijackings, told the judge: “We the brothers, all of us, would like to submit our confession.” The five face 2,973 counts of murder, one for each person killed seven years ago.

Although there is little chance that their trial can be completed before Mr Obama takes office, the Pentagon is insisting that it must press ahead until it receives new orders. A spokesman, Navy Commander Jeffrey Gordon, said: “We serve the sitting President and will continue to do so until President-elect Obama takes office.” Alice Hoagland was among the 9/11 relatives present for yesterday's proceedings. Her son, Mark Bingham, is believed to be one of the passengers who fought hijackers on the flight that crashed in rural Pennsylvania. She told reporters that she hoped Mr Obama, “an even-minded and just man”, would ensure that the five alleged terrorists were punished.

The other four defendants

Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali Also known as Ammar al-Baluchi — Yemeni nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Alleged to have sent about $120,000 to hijackers for their expenses and flight training

Waleed bin Attash Ali’s uncle. Yemeni accused of training two 9/11 hijackers at al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan. Alleged to have travelled to Malaysia in 1999 to observe the security of US airlines

Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi Saudi accused of providing funds for the 9/11 attacks. Alleged to have given hijackers money, Western clothing, traveller’s cheques and credit cards

Ramzi Binalshibh Yemeni, former roommate of suspected 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta. Accused of being link between al-Qaeda leaders and hijackers, and helping to find US flight schools

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