The American (20) suspected of fighting for the Taliban is to face charges in the United States after being handed to US justice officials.
Mr John Walker Lindh will appear in court today on charges of conspiring to kill US nationals and supporting terrorist groups.
He is to be held until his trial in the Alexandria City jail near Washington, where French national Mr Zacarias Moussaoui, charged over the September 11th attacks, is also being held, city officials said.
He faces life in prison if convicted on the conspiracy charge. As a US citizen, he does not fall under the jurisdiction of military tribunals instructed by President George W. Bush to try non-US terrorist suspects.
The government said Mr Lindh, also known as Suleyman al-Faris or Abdul Hamid, waived his right to an attorney last month before being questioned by US Federal Bureau of Investigation agents. But his family has hired attorneys Mr George Harris and Mr James Brosnahan to represent him.
Mr Brosnahan has questioned the government's claim that Mr Walker did not want an attorney by revealing Mr Walker had sent his parents a letter stating: "It is comforting to know that you have found a lawyer".
Mr Walker was captured in northern Afghanistan and then survived a bloody uprising by Taliban and al-Qaeda prisoners at a fort near Mazar-i-Sharif before being identified.
AFP