From CNN.com

 

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (CNN) -- An American citizen who had been detained in Saudi Arabia was charged Tuesday in U.S. District Court with conspiracy and supporting terrorists in an alleged plot to assassinate President Bush.

 

Ahmed Omar Abu Ali appeared in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, and was charged with providing material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization -- al Qaeda.

 

According to the six-count indictment, Abu Ali "did knowingly and unlawfully conspire to knowingly provide material support and resources ... knowing and intending that they were to be used in preparation for, and for carrying out, the assassination of the president of the United States."

 

The 23-year-old Abu Ali is not charged with a conspiracy to assassinate Bush, only for supporting terrorists and, as part of that, discussing Bush's possible assassination.

 

The indictment offered no evidence that the discussions ever advanced into a plan.

 

Tuesday's appearance was Abu Ali's first since he was returned to the United States from Saudi Arabia on Monday. He had been detained in Saudi Arabia for 20 months as a suspected terrorist.

 

As he entered the courtroom, clad in green prison garb, he beamed and smiled as about 40 of his supporters applauded him.

 

He was denied bail.

 

U.S. details charges

 

The government charges that he intended "to become a planner of terrorist operations like (September 11 terrorist) Mohamed Atta and (al Qaeda bomb expert) Khalid Sheikh Mohammed."

 

Between September 2002 and June 9, 2003, the government charges, Abu Ali and an unidentified co-conspirator "discussed plans for Abu Ali to assassinate President of the United States George W. Bush.

 

"Abu Ali and co-conspirator No. 2 discussed two options for assassinating President Bush: An operation in which Abu Ali would get close enough to the president to shoot him on the street; and, an operation in which Abu Ali would detonate a car bomb."

 

At this time, Abu Ali was in Saudi Arabia, where, the government alleges, he met with two co-conspirators and told them of his interest in joining al Qaeda.

 

When the charges were read in court, his supporters and family members laughed.

 

Separately, the government says that, between September 2002 and June 9, 2003, Abu Ali spoke to co-conspirator No. 3 about Abu Ali's assassination of Bush. "Abu Ali obtained a religious blessing from co-conspirator No. 3 to assassinate President Bush," the indictment says.

 

About the same time, "Abu Ali offered himself to persons in Saudi Arabia associated with al Qaeda as an individual committed to furthering the objectives of al Qaeda," the indictment says.

 

"While in Saudi Arabia, he received lodging from people associated with al Qaeda.

 

"Between the same time frame, co-conspirator No. 4 discussed with Abu Ali the manner and means by which Abu Ali could provide material support and resources to al Qaeda including conducting a terrorist operation and establishing an al Qaeda cell in the United States."

 

The government alleges in the indictment that Abu Ali received training in Saudi Arabia in the use of weapons, including hand grenades and explosives.

 

It provides no more detail about the alleged conspiracy to assassinate the president

supporters? As in they say he's innocent or as in they support him for wanting to be a terrorist?