Virginia Man Accused in Bush Assassination Plot Describes Saudi Torture

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBJYF6YZEE.html

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A man accused of joining al-Qaida angrily testified Wednesday that he was whipped and tortured by Saudi interrogators who he said refused his requests to contact the U.S. Embassy.

Ahmed Omar Abu Ali testified at a pretrial hearing in federal court to determine whether the confession he gave to the Saudis in June 2003 was coerced through torture.

"I have never felt any pain like it in my life," Abu Ali said. "It was the first time I felt extreme pain - they were telling me to confess."

Abu Ali, 24, of Falls Church, was born in Houston and was the 1999 valedictorian of an Islamic high school in Virginia. He is charged with joining al-Qaida while attending college in Saudi Arabia and planning several terrorist plots, including assassinating President Bush. His trial is scheduled for later this month.