International

Yemeni Detainee Rejects U.S.-Supplied Lawyer

By Melissa Block, Jackie Northam

Published August 25, 2004 at 9:00 PM PDT

This story was published more than 20 years ago.

In a pretrial hearing at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a Yemeni prisoner charged with conspiracy to commit war crimes rejects his military-supplied lawyer. The man's demand for either a Yemeni lawyer or the right to defend himself is being considered by the presiding officer. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and NPR's Jackie Northam.

International

Melissa Block

As special correspondent and guest host of NPR's news programs, Melissa Block brings her signature combination of warmth and incisive reporting. Her work over the decades has earned her journalism's highest honors, and has made her one of NPR's most familiar and beloved voices.

Jackie Northam

Jackie Northam is NPR's International Affairs Correspondent. She is a veteran journalist who has spent three decades reporting on conflict, geopolitics, and life across the globe - from the mountains of Afghanistan and the desert sands of Saudi Arabia, to the gritty prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and the pristine beauty of the Arctic.