Reuters AlertNet Lite - Germany gets access to jailed man in Syria

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Germany gets access to jailed man in Syria

27 Nov 2006 19:38:47 GMT
Source: Reuters

BERLIN, Nov 27 (Reuters) - A German embassy official in Damascus has obtained access to a German man who is being held in a Syrian jail after the CIA handed him over, a German foreign ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Spokesman Jens Ploetner told reporters that after repeated refusals by the Syrian government, German embassy officials had gained access to Mohammed Zammar, an associate of the Hamburg al Qaeda cell which led the Sept. 11 attacks.

"The German government will strive to make certain that this consular access is maintained and that Mr Zammar can have legal aid" during his upcoming trial in Syria, Ploetner said.

Syrian-born Zammar was arrested in Morocco in late 2001.

German weekly Der Spiegel said among the charges the Syrians will try Zammar on are membership in the Muslim Brotherhood, punishable by death in Syria. Zammar is expected to answer this charge in a Syrian court on Sunday, the magazine said.

Civil rights organisations have criticised the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush for its practice of having the CIA take suspected terrorists and fly them to third countries so that they can be interrogated under conditions that might not be acceptable under U.S. law.

Berlin said it would also seek to ensure that Zammar's living conditions were as bearable as possible in jail and that he has access to any medication he might need, he said.

Der Spiegel reported that an embassy official met with Zammar briefly at Seidnaya prison near Damascus. He asked for some winter clothing, money and a lawyer.

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Last updated:Tue Jan 23 20:56:31 2007