Trial for Masood murder suspects

The trial has opened in Belgium of 12 men suspected of involvement in the murder of the Afghan militia leader, Ahmed Shah Masood.

The defendants, all alleged to be radical Islamic militants, are accused of supplying fake documents to two suspected al-Qaeda members who assassinated Masood two years ago.

Both suspected killers had lived in Belgium and were using fake Belgian passports.

The trial, which was adjourned after a brief initial hearing, is to resume next month.

Prosecutors are seeking to have the case tried jointly with that of a Tunisian footballer, Nizar Trabelsi, who has been accused of planning to attack American targets in Belgium.

He was arrested just two days after the 11 September attacks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service