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DUESSELDORF, Germany - A German investigator testified Friday that authorities identified al-Qaida links to the leader of a German-based terrorist cell, but could not back U.S. claims that the man was also in contact with Saddam Hussein. Testifying at the trial of Shadi Abdellah, accused of plotting attacks in Germany for the radical Palestinian group Al Tawhid, federal agent Manfred Ehlenz said Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was the leader of the group and also believed to be the "leader of a wing within al-Qaida." In his February speech to the U.N. Security Council U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said al-Zarqawi...

DUESSELDORF, Germany -- A Jordanian man who claims he was Osama bin Laden's bodyguard was questioned by U.S. officials who are considering having him testify at the Virginia trial of terror suspect Zacarias Moussaoui, the man's attorney said Thursday. Shadi Abdellah, 28, sentenced last November to four years in prison for helping plan terror attacks in Germany, was granted early release last month after serving more than half the time, including in pretrial custody. While in prison, he served as a government witness in several trials, including that of his alleged co-plotters in the German cell of the Tawhid and...

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) -- A Jordanian accused of helping plot terror attacks by a radical Palestinian network went on trial in Germany on Tuesday accused of membership in a group that supports al-Qaida. Shadi Abdellah, 26, who has said he served briefly as Osama bin Laden's bodyguard at a camp in Afghanistan, was among nine alleged extremists detained across Germany in April 2002 on suspicion of plotting imminent attacks. He is charged with belonging to a terrorist organization, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and forging passports. Prosecutors allege the German cell was acting under...