The US today convened military court proceedings against four detainees in Guantanamo Bay.
It formally charged a Yemeni, described as Osama bin Laden's driver, with conspiracy to commit murder as a member of al-Qaeda.
Salim Ahmed Hamdan, 34, went before a panel of five US military officers for a pre-trial hearing at the US naval base in Cuba, where he has been held for more than two years.
The US has charged four of the 585 al-Qaeda or Taliban suspects at Guantanamo with conspiracy to commit war crimes, a charge that carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Three other men - an Australian, a Yemeni and a Sudanese - will also appear before the military commissions whose creation was ordered by US President George W Bush.
Australian David Hicks is believed to be the only westerner in the camp. He is accused of fighting for al-Qaeda against the Americans in Afghanistan.
The legal process has been strongly criticised by rights groups. A spokesman for the prosecution says the military commissions meet international and American standards for fair trials.
A senior officer at Guantanamo, Colonel David McWilliams, said that even if some detainees are found innocent, they could still be held until the US decides its 'war on terror' is over.
