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CHICAGO - Two more US citizens have been indicted in a connection with a suspected plot to carry out a holy war against American troops in Iraq.
The indictments, announced by the US attorney's office in Cleveland yesterday, are part of an investigation into a suspected conspiracy that began in November, 2004, in which three others were previously named, officials said.
Zubair Ahmed, 27, and his cousin, Khaleel Ahmed, 26, both of Chicago, were named in the latest indictments and arrested yesterday. They were accused of plotting to "kill, kidnap or maim persons outside of the United States (including) US military personnel serving in Iraq."
The initial indictment a year ago involving three other men said there was a conspiracy to "recruit others to train for violent jihad against the United States and its allies in Iraq, and elsewhere, and (locate) potential training sites for use in providing ongoing firearms, hand-to-hand combat, explosives and other paramilitary training to prospective recruits."
Wednesday's indictment adding the two Chicago men said the three named earlier, Mohammad Zaki Amawi, 27, Marwan Othman El-Hindi, 42, and Wassim Mazloum, 24, all residents of Ohio, conspired to provide material support to terrorists.
In addition Amawi was accused of making threats against President George W. Bush, and he and El-Hindi were accused of distributing information about explosives.
The three pleaded not guilty and have been in jail the past year awaiting trial.
The two Chicago men were in contact with the other three about training for violent acts, but no instruction actually took place, the indictment said.
All five were accused of violating a section of federal law prohibiting "conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim or injure persons or damage persons in a foreign country."
Two other related indictments were announced. One accused Bilal Mazloum, 22, a brother of Wassim Mazloum, of making a false statement to federal agents.
The other accused Ed-Hindi and Ashraf Zaim, 39, of fraud and conspiracy, claiming they diverted for their personal use a US$40,000 ($57,405) federal grant they received in 2002 to help low-income people prepare their taxes.
- REUTERS
