Vienna: A young married couple suspected of links to al-Qaida will go on trial soon on federal terrorism charges stemming from the March 2007 online posting of a video threatening Austria and Germany with attacks, prosecutors said today.

The pair, both Austrian citizens of Arab origin, were arrested in September in connection with the video, which threatened the two countries with terrorist strikes if they did not withdraw military personnel from Afghanistan.

Authorities said the husband later told police that potential targets included the Vienna-based Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, as well as UN agencies based in the Austrian capital, German government offices and prominent politicians in both countries.

They said the man, identified only as Egyptian-born Mohamed M, 22, mentioned the Austrian targets in Internet chat groups frequented by Islamic radicals.

Prosecutors allege that his 20-year-old wife translated Arabic texts into German for the video.

Officials have not confirmed reports that another possible target was this summer's Euro 2008 soccer tournament, which is being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

Canadian authorities are prosecuting third suspect in the video threat. A fourth suspect who had been arrested in Austria since has been released.

Germany has about 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, but Austria maintains only three liaison officers.

Source : PTI