Washington, Aug 08: A former Intel software engineer, Maher Hawash, has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to help the Taliban in Afghanistan after a US-led coalition attacked the country following the Sept 11, 2001, terror strikes.
In return for his promise to testify against six other Portland (Oregon)-based suspects accused of plotting to 'wage war' against the US, federal prosecutors dropped more serious terrorism charges against Hawash, who worked for Intel for more than a decade before he was detained in Oregon in March this year.
Hawash acknowledged that he travelled with others from Portland to China in October 2001 in an unsuccessful attempt to enter Pakistan and Afghanistan to fight against US forces.
He expects to serve seven to 10 years in prison and will cooperate fully in next January's trial of the other suspects, said his lawyer Stephen House.
Hawash, alias 'Mike', faced more than 20 years in prison on the charges that have been dropped after the approval of Attorney General John Ashcroft.



The 38-year-old Hawash was born on the West Bank. He became a US citizen 13 years ago.


Bureau Report