Alleged enemy combatant gets day in court in Illinois

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- An alleged al-Qaida sleeper agent gets his day in court after almost six years confined to a military brig near Charleston.

Ali al-Marri had been detained without charges as an enemy combatant.

The government has now charged him as a civilian and he makes an initial appearance before a federal magistrate in Charleston on Tuesday.

Al-Marri will later be transferred to Illinois to face charges of providing material support to al-Qaida and conspiracy. Each carries a maximum 15-year sentence.

Al-Marri was studying at Bradley University when he was arrested in 2001 in the investigation of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Originally indicted on fraud charges, that indictment was dropped in 2003 when he was declared an enemy combatant.