One of the men accused of planning the September 11, 2001 attacks has been removed from a US military court after making an outburst about a secret CIA prison.
Yemeni defendant Ramzi Binalshibh, accused of helping the hijackers enter the United States and of financing the attacks that killed nearly 3000 people, was ejected from a pre-trial hearing at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp on the judge's orders.
His removal on Tuesday came shortly after Binalshibh's lawyer suggested that guards at the US military prison in Cuba were deliberately depriving his client of sleep.
"He could not sleep at all last night because of the noise he is exposed to," said Navy Lieutenant Commander Kevin Bogucki.
"He is too tired to pay attention."
The latest hearing for the alleged 9/11 plotters, who are eventually expected to go on trial in 2015, was screened for reporters at the Fort Meade military base in Maryland, via a closed-circuit feed.
Commander Bogucki said Binalshibh's cell was subjected to banging and knocking sounds - an allegation the US government denies, but which the judge said had not been proven either way.
Having been granted a 15-minute recess to discuss whether Binalshibh understood his right to be present at Tuesday's hearing, the suspect refused to co-operate with Judge James Pohl's questions, citing bias.
"I refuse to answer this question as long as the judge is taking a position against me and against my allegations," Binalshibh said, before beginning apparently impromptu claims about US treatment of terror suspects.
After being warned by Judge Pohl that it was not his time to speak, the Yemeni suspect, whose alleged crimes include helping the hijackers find flight schools in the United States, cited the words "secret CIA prison" during a muffled speech.
Judge Pohl then told Binalshibh he would be removed if he did not stop talking, but the suspect continued and US military guards were instructed to take him to the court's holding cell.
The courtroom camera cut away from Binalshibh while he was being taken out of court.
Following the lunch recess, Binalshibh returned to the court and was given a second opportunity to acknowledge his rights but he again refused and was removed by guards a second time, amid shouts of "I am not a war criminal".
"As I told you this morning, I am not going to answer your questions," Binalshibh told Judge Pohl.
"I want to leave. It is not about yes or no. It is torture. Don't stop me like that," he added, before being removed.
Judge Pohl had asked Binalshibh for a "Yes or No," answer on whether he understood his rights, and said the Yemeni suspect would appear in court again on Wednesday.
