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US to seek death penalty for Moussaoui

The US Justice Department has told a court that it would seek death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the September 11 attacks.

In a filing with the trial judge in Alexandria, Virginia, prosecutors said Moussaoui deserved capital punishment because he helped plot "the largest loss of life resulting from a criminal act in the history of the United States", the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday.

Moussaoui, 33, a French citizen of Moroccan descent, is charged with conspiring with Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, the hijackers of the planes, and others to commit the attacks.

Four of the six counts brought against him carry a death sentence.

The decision is controversial, as investigations into the September 11 attacks are being conducted in several European countries where capital punishment is banned.

France noted that it wouldn't cooperate with the US authorities if the death penalty was invoked.

However, Attorney General John Ashcroft asked US allies to continue their cooperation despite their misgivings.

"We ask our counterparts in the international community to respect our sovereignty, and we respect theirs," Ashcroft was quoted as saying.

"To the extent that they can cooperate and help us, we welcome that cooperation," he said.

Agencies

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