A U.S. court has sentenced an American al-Qaida member to life inprison for plotting to assassinate then-President George W. Bush in2003.
A judge in the eastern U.S. state of Virginia hadoriginally sentenced Ahmed Omar Abu Ali to a 30-year prison term. Buta higher court ruled the punishment was too lenient and sent the caseback for re-sentencing.
The U.S.-born Abu Ali was convicted in2005 of involvement in an al-Qaida plot to kill Mr. Bush and carry outother terrorist acts. Prosecutors said the 28-year-old joined al-Qaidawhile studying in Saudi Arabia in 2002.
Saudi authoritiesdetained Abu Ali in 2003 in a crackdown on militants and jailed himfor 20 months before extraditing him to the United States.
U.S.District Judge Gerald Bruce Lee said Monday he increased Abu Ali'ssentence to a life term because of his refusal to renounce terrorismand the risk he would pose to the public if released.
Abu Ali says Saudi authorities tortured him into confessing. Judge Lee, a jury and an appeals court all rejected the claim.
Ina brief statement to the court Monday, Abu Ali said Judge Lee wouldhave to appear one day before a divine tribunal. Abu Ali said that ifthe judge was comfortable with such a prospect, he could impose anysentence he desired.
Abu Ali was raised in the Washingtonsuburb of Falls Church, Virginia. His parents attended Monday'ssentencing but made no comment.
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