Thirteen men suspected of having links to al-Qaeda have gone on trial in the Dutch city of Rotterdam. Twelve of the men were living in the Netherlands illegally when they were arrested last year. Prosecutors have accused them of helping the enemy in a time of conflict – a charge which has not been used in the Netherlands since crimes related to World War II. But the long-dormant charge became an issue as soon as the trial began, with the defence claiming it was a war crimes charge and should be heard in a military court. The judge decided a civil court was the place to hear it first. Prosecutors say the law in question refers to armed conflict and not war. However, the BBC’s Geraldine Coghlan at the trial says there could still be problems establishing evidence of the Dutch role in the conflict cited, the US-led war against the Taleban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Full Story
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