US District Judge Leonie Brinkema had ordered the documents retrieved from Moussaoui's cell and, in a move exposing the government's clumsiness, released Thursday a collection of letters from federal prosecutors in which they acknowledge the mistake and plead for her help.

The contents of the 48 documents have not been formally disclosed.

But they are reported to feature summaries of interviews conducted by FBI agents with people detained in connection with the September 11 attacks and sensitive information about Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Assistant US Attorney Robert Spencer said the documents "contain national security information."

The administration of President George W. Bush has denied access to such data even to most members of Congress.

Moussaoui, a 34-year-old Frenchman, faces six federal charges of conspiracy and a possible death sentence for alleged involvement in the September 11 attacks.

The secret FBI documents had been given to Moussaoui as part of the discovery process, a legal requirement which stipulates that a defendant must be made aware of evidence that will be used against him in trial.

Moussaoui, who some believe was designated to become a 20th hijacker in the September 11 plot, was detained for immigration violations in the northern state of Minnesota long before the attack and remained behind bars when it occurred.

He has admitted being an al-Qaeda member and bin Laden sympathizer but has denied any role in the attacks. But prosecutors said earlier this week they had evidence linking him to Ziad Jarrah, the suspected hijacker-pilot of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania on September 11.

Jarrah's singed business card, which was discovered at the crash site, had a telephone number scwarled on it that was frequently called by Moussaoui, prosecutors say.
The trial of Moussaoui is set to begin on January 6.

He and Moroccan Mounir El Motassadeq are the only people worldwide to have been indicted for the attacks.
mk/gil

(NAMPA/AFP)

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