Wednesday, February 23 2005 10:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: The US Justice Department has announced the arrest of an American citizen for plotting to kill President George W Bush.

According to charges brought in against Ahmed Omar Abu Ali yesterday (Feb 22, 2005), he discussed a plan to kill Bush with an unidentified al-Qaeda member while in Saudi Arabia. Abu Ali first went to Saudi Arabia in 2000, then again in 2002, as a student.

US authorities have obtained a six-count indictment against him. It says that Abu Ali and his co-conspirator (unidentified) discussed two plans: Abu Ali would get close to the President and shoot him on the street or he would detonate a car bomb.

He also discussed - with co-conspirators - conducting terrorist operations and establishing an al-Qaeda cell in the United States, the indictment reads.

Before Abu Ali's return to US and the indictment, he was being held without charges in Saudi Arabia since June 2003. His parents have sued the US Government alleging that their son had been detained there at the behest of US Government.

Yesterday, at the initial appearance in US district court, Abu Ali claimed he was tortured while in custody in Saudi Arabia and even offered to show scars on his back to the judge.

If convicted, he can get prison sentence upto 80 years.