First Sept 11 convict released

Moroccan student Mounir El Motassadeq will walk free later Wednesday after more than two years in prison, a court spokeswoman said.

He was sentenced by the same court in this northern German city in February 2003 to 15 years in prison on charges of accessory to the murder of more than 3,000 people and of membership in a terrorist organization.

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Court spokeswoman Sabine Westphalen said that there was no longer "urgent suspicion" against him on the accessory to murder charge, leading the judges to approve his release.

She said that the tribunal had, however, found that there was still "urgent suspicion" of membership in a terrorist organization but that this was legally insufficient to keep him in custody.

"He will be released from investigative custody today but not without conditions," Westphalen said.

Motassadeq, who turned 30 this month, will be required to remain in Hamburg and stay at the home of his wife and forfeit his passport.