IF ZACARIAS MOUSSAOUI could not be a martyr for al-Qaeda as a suicide pilot then he appears determined to die as a suicide witness.

His sensational confession grabbed the headlines, which is precisely what he intended.

Yet American intelligence agencies do not believe his self-incriminating testimony that he was to hijack a fifth plane on 9/11 and crash it into the White House with the help of Richard Reid, his old friend from South London. The CIA has in its custody two al-Qaeda terrorists who planned the 2001 synchronised attacks on New York and Washington and they are adamant that the former London university postgraduate student was not part of their handpicked team of hijackers.

But from the start of this hearing Moussaoui made it clear he regarded the proceedings as a joke. He mocked the judge, shouted obscenities at the jury and repeatedly said he recognises only Islamic law.

From the time he was arrested in August 2001 Moussaoui has given various differing accounts of his role and has revelled in taunting his interrogators. He made no secret of his allegiance to al-Qaeda.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of 9/11 who is one of those in US detention, admits he did give Moussaoui $15,000 to take flying lessons in the US, but says he was part of their second string — who were to carry out a later wave of attacks on American cities.

However spurious Moussaoui’s confession in a Virginia court, he may get his wish. This state is second only to Texas in carrying out the death penalty.

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