Moussaoui denies role in Sept. 11 attacks

Associated Press WriterALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person indicted as a Sept. 11 conspirator, denied in court Thursday that he played any role in the attacks against the World Trade Center.

Moussaoui told a federal judge that the government "knew I was not in contact with these people who were to have done the hijacking."

Moussaoui appeared before U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, where he argued successfully to be allowed to represent himself in a trial later this year.

Brinkema, however, asked Moussaoui's current court-appointed lawyers to remain in the case even though they pleaded for her to dismiss them. Moussaoui has contended his lawyers are part of a conspiracy to kill him.

Moussaoui, who was at the lecturn to answer questions from the judge about his legal representation, kept asking Brinkema for a chance to reveal a secret that would compel the government "to withdraw the case today."

The judge repeatedly tried to cut him off, telling Moussaoui at one point that "we're not here for speeches." But near the end of the trial, the defendant was allowed to address the charge that he conspired with the hijackers to carry out the September attacks.

Moussaoui was arrested Aug. 16, when officials of a flight school became suspicious of his behavior. He told the judge the government "knew who I was when I entered the United States of America and decided to arrest me."

Moussaoui is charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism, pirate aircraft, destroy aircraft, use weapons of mass destruction, murder U.S. government employees and destroy property.