Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Guantanamo hearing gets chaotic start

The military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay set up to prosecute the five leading 9/11 suspects has been hit by a series of disruptions on its opening day.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others accused of plotting the 2001 attacks refused to respond to questions during the nine-hour hearing. One launched into a defiant outburst, suggesting the Americans might kill him before the end of the trial. The five refused to enter pleas on murder and terrorism charges.

The charges, over the attacks in which 2,976 people died, can carry the death penalty. They will now be asked again to enter pleas of guilty or not guilty at a later hearing.