Sydney, July 08: Australian-born Taliban fighter David Hicks, who is now in US military detention, has admitted training with the al-Qaeda terrorist network, Prime Minister John Howard revealed for the first time today. Howard's disclosure came as US lawyers protested that hicks will not receive a fair trial by a US Military Tribunal because he is being denied proper access to legal representation.

The 27-year-old former Adelaide poultry process worker has been held by the US military at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since he was captured fighting with the Taliban by US forces in Afghanistan in November, 2001. Hicks' lawyers have conceded he was Taliban fighter but denied persistent allegations he had links to al-Qaeda.

But Howard said the government was satisfied that hicks would receive a fair trial and that he was linked to al-Qaeda.

"What is not an allegation, because the man in question has admitted it, is that he trained with al-Qaeda," Howard told radio station when asked about hicks.
Howard said the government had lengthy discussions with US officials about the case and was satisfied that Hicks would receive a fair hearing, that the presumption of innocence would prevail and that there would be access to lawyers.

One of Hicks' Adelaide-based lawyers, Frank Camatta, said he was shocked by the Prime Minister's comments. "It's a total surprise to us," he said.

Bureau Report