US Taliban fighter 'loves America'

John Walker Lindh, the captured al Qaeda fighter charged with conspiring to kill Americans, appeared in a US court today amid heightened security and was remanded in custody.

Dressed in a green prisoner jumpsuit, his hair closely cut and beard shaved, Walker said quietly "I understand" when the four charges against him were read at the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

After reading him his rights and accepting his attorneys, the judge ordered the 20-year-old Californian held without bail until his preliminary and detention hearings on February 6.

Lindh's parents, Frank Lindh and Marilyn Walker, who had met privately with their son and his attorney before the hearing, sat in the second row of the courtroom to watch the proceedings.

"John loves America. We love America," his father, Frank Lindh, said after the hearing. He said his son was innocent of the charges.

"It's been two years since I last saw my son. It was wonderful to see him this morning. My love for him is unconditional and absolute," said his mother, Marilyn Walker.

"I am grateful that he has been brought home to his family, me, his home and his country."

Security was stepped up around Government buildings as 20-year-old Walker faced charges that he conspired to kill US nationals and aided Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network.

The federal courthouse was ringed with security, with snipers on the roof and armed officers outside the building. Those entering the courtroom had to pass through a second metal detector in addition to the one at the courthouse door.

If convicted, Walker could be jailed but many believe he will also face treason charges which carry the death penalty.

He arrived at Washington's Dulles airport last night and was led from the plane, flanked by guards, with his legs shackled and arms cuffed. He is being held at a high-security FBI facility.

President George W Bush has said that as a US citizen, Mr Walker should be tried in a domestic civilian court, rather than being sent to Camp X-Ray on Guantanamo Bay to face the military tribunals proposed for other prisoners.

Walker was found among prisoners at Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan who staged the bloody uprising in which CIA operative Johnny "Mike" Spann was killed. The charges against him are based almost entirely on his own words to American interrogators overseas and to CNN.

The state's main prosecutor is expected to be David Kelley, who secured convictions of the 1993 World Trade Center bombers, also linked to Bin Laden.

However, Walker already has a high-powered defence team led by Virginia lawyer William Cummings, who represented the wife of convicted spy Aldrich Ames. He said statements by his client may never reach court. "Ninety nine point nine percent of the case is based upon his statement and so suppression would be high on the list. If that disappears, the case disappears," said Mr Cummings.

Walker's parents tried to visit their son yesterday but were denied access. His father Frank said: "We're a little disappointed but the guards did tell us that John was in good health."

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