The lawyer, Khaled al-Ansi, was cleared to enter the United States. But when he showed up in court for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 8 and sought permission to visit al-Moayad, prosecutors warned that the cleric might try to use him to relay anti-American messages to his followers. ------ "Feds rebuff Yemeni lawyer in terror case," by TOM HAYS, AP Wire, October 28 2004
Defense attorneys said Mohamed Alanssi is a confidential informant central to the prosecution of Sheik Ali Hassan al-Moayad, whom U.S. authorities consider their biggest catch to date in a campaign to cut off funding for terrorists. ----- "Terror case dealt blow when key witness sets himself afire," By MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN, Associated Press Writer, November 16, 2004
http://www.guerrillanews.com/headlines/headline.php?id=287
I don't think they are related but really don't have a clue. The above is a 27 November article that tells more about the guy who set himself on fire.
According to this article The Shiek's trial started yesterday.