The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-04-23

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Facing the Death Penalty Moussaoui Pleaded Guilty

By Betty Savourdou

Zacarias Moussaoui, the sole accused in the USA in relation to the September 11 attacks, pleaded guilty on Friday for all six charges pending against him. However, he added he had nothing to do with the particular attack, but participated in a wider conspiracy to use planes as weapons of mass destruction and that he was trained to hit the White House. As the Secretary of Justice announced, the US government wishes the death penalty to be imposed on French-Moroccan Moussaoui.

"Bin Laden Chose Me"

36-year-old Moussaoui said he had been chosen by the leader of Al Qaeda himself, in order to participate in an operation during which hijacked planes would be guided on US buildings.

As per the court's minutes, the accused stated that Bin Laded had told him: "Remember your dream."

In fact, he pleaded guilty for all six charges pending against him: conspiracy for terrorist activities, hijacking, destruction of aircraft, use of mass destruction weapons, murder of US employees and destruction of foreign property.

The first four charges he is facing attract the death penalty.

Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales described the testimony as "a gruesome confession of guilt" confirming that the US government will ask for the death penalty.

Although Moussaoui had stated earlier this week that he would accept the death penalty, it seems that he has now changed his mind.

Airplanes as Weapons of Mass Destruction

In a packed room, including family members of the September 11 victims, for the first time Moussaoui gave details of what he was planning to do for Al Qaeda in the USA.

As he said: "I am guilty of a wider conspiracy to use planes as weapons of mass destruction."

"I was trained on a 747 so as to use that plane to hit the White House," confessed Moussaoui who went to two flight training schools in the USA prior to the September 11 attacks.

In fact, he also said that the purpose of the conspiracy where he would participate in, was to release blind sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who is incarcerated in US prisons, after having been found guilty as charged for terrorism, which dates prior to the twin towers hit.

Translated by Sofia Soulioti

[02] According to a GPO Opinion Poll ND in the Lead

By Anna Kourti

A new opinion poll of GPO for Eleftheros Typos newspaper gives a lead of 3 units to ND, as opposed to PASOK, for the intention of vote. Specifically ND is on the lead by 36.2%, and is followed by PASOK 33.2%, KKE 7.3%, LAOS 3.8%, and Synaspismos 3.1%. Kostas Karamanlis is more suitable for the position of Prime Minister by 42.2% of the people questioned, while Giorgos Papandreou received 26.9%. In closing, ND receives 57% as opposed to PASOK that receives 22.6%.

Translated by Eirene Nisiriou

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