Pearl suspect's plea rejected

The murder trial has been delayed several times

In Pakistan the Supreme Court rejected an appeal on Thursday by those accused of murdering the American journalist Daniel Pearl, against transferring the trial away from Karachi.

The trial is taking place at an anti-terrorism court in the central prison in the southern city of Hyderabad.

It was moved from Pakistan's largest city Karachi after prosecution lawyers said there were serious security concerns there.

Daniel Pearl, who worked for the "Wall Street Journal" disappeared from Karachi in January, while working on a report on Islamic militants.

A video showing his throat being slit was handed to the American Consulate but his body has never been found.

Security threats

The trial of the four men accused of kidnapping and murdering Daniel Pearl started two weeks ago.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

Mr Pearl's body has not been found

The first prosecution witnesses included a taxi driver, who said he had seen Mr Pearl get into a car with the main suspect, British-born Omar Sheikh, the day he disappeared.

But the trial has since been held up by petitions from both sides.

The anti-terrorism court was moved to Hyderabad after prosecutors said they had found out about plans to attack Karachi central jail where it had been sitting.

The prosecutors also persuaded the High Court to change the judge because they said the previous one was unable to stop defendants making threatening gestures.

Now defence lawyers are asking the Supreme Court to move the trial back to Karachi.

No extradition

The judge in Hyderabad accepted the trial could not go ahead as some of the defence lawyers were missing.

So, he appointed two lawyers at state expense to represent three of the accused and said that the case would go ahead on Wednesday.

The prosecution still have over 20 witnesses to call, including computer experts from the FBI who examined the e-mail sent to news organisations with photographs of Mr Pearl in captivity.

Pakistan has turned down a request by the United States for the extradition of the four suspects.

President Musharraf said his administration wanted the people of Pakistan to know the government would act strongly against terrorism.