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Media Urge Openness in Moussaoui Dispute

Media organizations contend the government is using “sleight of hand” to keep proceedings secret in a dispute over terrorism suspect Zacarias Moussaoui’s access to an al-Qaida prisoner. The public’s right to attend hearings and view the court record is not eliminated by a law guiding use of classified information in court proceedings, 11 media groups argued in writing Tuesday to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. Matters set for oral argument in June and written pleadings “do not consist entirely or even largely” of classified material, the organizations said. A trial judge has granted Moussaoui pretrial access to the prisoner, Ramzi Binalshibh, a suspected coordinator of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. The government appealed the order, arguing it would interfere with Binalshibh’s interrogation. Full Story