WASHINGTON, Jan 16: American John Walker Lindh, captured fighting with Al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan, faces federal charges of conspiracy to kill US nationals that could send him to prison for the rest of his life, Attorney General John Ashcroft said.

In a complaint filed on Tuesday in US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, “the United States is charging Walker with ... conspiracy to kill nationals of the United States overseas, namely US nationals engaged in the conflict in Afghanistan,” Ashcroft said.

The 20-year-old, also known as Suleyman al-Faris or Abdul Hamid, is also charged with “providing material support and resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaeda; and engaging in prohibited transactions with the Taliban,” Ashcroft said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the president was “pleased that the process put in place by the National Security Council to review this unique case and the collaborative efforts between the departments of Defence and Justice worked well.

“The president is confident that justice will be done.”

Walker’s family and a lawyer they hired to represent him issued a statement criticizing the US government for denying access to him.

Lawyer George Harris said he would seek a fair trial for his client, and asked US officials to “cease their public speculation about this case and respect the presumption of innocence and the fair procedures that our constitution guarantees to all American citizens.” Ashcroft waived off questions why the Justice Department did not accuse Walker of crimes that carry the death penalty.—AFP