Trial of Bin Laden son-in-law begins in NY

A US district court has opened the trial of Osama bin Laden's son-in-law, who is accused of conspiring to kill Americans and aiding members of terrorist network al-Qaeda.

Suleiman Abu Ghaith, a former spokesman for al-Qaeda, is the terrorist network's highest-ranking member to be tried on US soil since the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, in which nearly 3000 people were killed.

Judge Lewis Kaplan of the southern district of New York began the trial on Monday with the selection of jurors, who will remain anonymous and can only be identified with assigned numbers throughout the trial.

Kaplan told the potential jurors that Abu Ghaith was "innocent" until the US government proves that the defendant conspired to kill Americans and provided material support and resources to al-Qaeda.

In order to shrink the number of jurors to 12 individuals and a few alternates, Kaplan dismissed several prospective jurors who said they could face "hardship" due to travel plans or other allowable reasons.

In order to make sure there was no prior relationship between the jurors and defendant, Kaplan asked the balding and bearded Abu Ghaith to face the potential jurors before asking if anyone knew him. No one did.

There was silence among the jurors when the judge asked if there was anyone who had never heard the word al-Qaeda.

As part of evidence against the defendant, the US government plans to show jurors a picture that allegedly shows Abu Ghaith seated alongside al-Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden, a day after the 2001 attacks.

Abu Ghaith, 48, who was wearing a baggy beige suit on Monday, could face life in prison if convicted. His trial came a year after he was arrested in Jordan as he was heading to Kuwait.

The Kuwaiti-born Abu Ghaith was an imam in his country before heading to Afghanistan in 2000 to join al-Qaeda. He then married one of Bin Laden's daughters, Fatima.