Accused Libyan terrorist Abu Amas al Liby pleads not guilty

Accused Libyan terrorist Abu Anas al Liby pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York on Tuesday to charges of conspiring to kill U.S. citizens in connection with the U.S. embassy bombings in Africa in 1998.

Al Liby , whose real name is Nazih Abdul Hamed Ruqai, entered his plea 10 days after being grabbed by American forces during a secret raid in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.

In court he said he preferred to be referred to as Ruqai rather than by his nom de guerre. Ruqai entered the tightly secured courtroom in lower Manhattan with his hands cuffed behind his back. He wore gray sweat pants and a long-sleeved black sweater. Ruqai, whose family has said he is suffering from hepatitis C, kept his eyes down sat through much of the court hearing, which lasted a few minutes. He had a gray beard and spoke through an Arabic translator.

Ruqai faces a number of terrorism charges stemming from the embassy attacks, which killed 224 people, including 12 Americans, in Kenya and Tanzania. Prosecutors say he was among a group of Al Qaeda loyalists who conspired to attack and kill Americans and destroy U.S. property.

Ruqai was indicted more than a decade ago but was on the run until the surprise raid in Tripoli. He was ordered to remain in custody until his next court appearance on Oct. 22.

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