DATE=11/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241460
TITLE=TERRORISTS/RIGHTS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A U-S FEDERAL JUDGE (TUESDAY) AGREED TO REVIEW TIGHT 
SECURITY REGULATIONS IN A NEW YORK PRISON WHERE THREE ALLEGED 
TERRORISTS ARE BEING HELD.  CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS
TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE AUGUST 
BOMBINGS OF THE U-S EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA.

TEXT:  UNDER U-S RULES, PRISON OFFICIALS CAN SEGREGATE SUSPECTED 
TERRORISTS, RESTRICT THEIR VISITS AND MAIL, AND LIMIT THEIR USE 
OF THE TELEPHONE.  THESE CONDITIONS ARE ALLOWED IF U-S OFFICIALS 
BELIEVE THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK THAT A PRISONER'S 
COMMUNICATIONS COULD LEAD TO DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY HARM.

ATTORNEYS FOR MOHAMMED SADDIQ ODEH (UH-AW'DAY) AND MOHAMED RASHED
AL-OWAHALI (AL-UH WAH'LEE) ARGUE THE RESTRICTIONS ARE HAMPERING 
THEIR DEFENSE ACTIVITIES.  

THE LAWYER FOR A THIRD DEFENDANT, WADIH EL HAGE (AL HAHJ'), SAYS 
MR. EL HAGE -- AN AMERICAN CITIZEN -- HAS BEEN UNABLE TO 
COMMUNICATE WITH HIS FAMILY, INCLUDING SEVEN CHILDREN, BECAUSE OF
THE RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON WHEN HE CAN ACTUALLY TELEPHONE THEM.  
THE LAWYER SAYS MR. EL-HAGE, AS A RESULT, HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO 
FOCUS ON THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

MR. ODEH AND MR. AL-OWAHALI EACH HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH MORE THAN
200 COUNTS OF MURDER IN THE BOMBING OF THE U-S EMBASSIES IN 
AFRICA.  MR. EL-HAGE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO KILL U-S
CITIZENS ABROAD.  ALL THREE HAVE PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

PROSECUTORS HAVE AGREED TO TRY TO STRIKE A BALANCE TO ACCOMMODATE
BOTH THE SECURITY NEEDS OF THE PRISON SYSTEM AND THE RIGHTS OF 
THE DEFENDANTS.

ALSO IN THE HEARING, THE JUDGE SET DATES FOR THE PROSECUTION TO 
SUBMIT ALL ITS EVIDENCE AGAINST THE THREE MEN.  THE DOCUMENTATION
-- SAID TO BE VOLUMINOUS -- IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE TURNED OVER 
BEFORE EARLY NEXT YEAR.

ONE OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS SUGGESTED IN COURT THAT THE 
PROSECUTION MAY BE TRYING TO DELAY THE TRIAL IN HOPES OF BRINGING
IN MORE SUSPECTS.  CHARGES WERE FILED LAST WEEK AGAINST THE 
ALLEGED MASTERMIND OF THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS -- OSAMA BIN LADEN -- 
AND HIS CHIEF MILITARY COMMANDER.  

THE U-S GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED REWARDS FOR THEIR CAPTURE.  MR. 
BIN LADEN IS BELIEVED TO BE IN AFGHANISTAN.

UNDER U-S FEDERAL RULES, DEFENDANTS MUST BE GIVEN A SPEEDY TRIAL 
OR THE PROSECUTION RISKS HAVING ALL CHARGES DROPPED.   (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/EJ/LSF/RAE 

10-Nov-98 2:51 PM EST (1951 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.