 A Jordanian man suspected of having al-Qaida links pleaded not guilty Sunday to charges of attempted premeditated murder in a shootout that wounded several police officers. Awni Ramadan Mustafa al-Mansi, 32, a Jordanian of Palestinian origin, also pleaded not guilty to illegal possession of weapons. Al-Mansi and a second gunman, Suleiman Ghayad al-Anjadi, allegedly opened fire at special forces who came to arrest them on January 9 at a hide-out in the northern city of Irbid. Police returned fire, killing al-Anjadi, who was on Jordan's "most wanted" terror list. If convicted, al-Mansi could face the death penalty. The hearing was adjourned until July 17. |