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Jan 30, 2008 2:42 pm US/Pacific

L.A. Man On Trial For Allegedly Spying For Saddam

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A federal trial is under way in Los Angeles for an Iraqi-born American citizen accused of being an informant for former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

During opening statements Wednesday, a prosecutor said William Shaoul Benjamin collected intelligence on Assyrian groups in the U.S. for Saddam and didn't notify government officials here. He's charged with conspiracy, failing to register as an agent of a foreign government and making false statements.

A prosecutor said Benjamin was to "penetrate and monitor" expatriate Assyrian Christians, a minority group in Iraq perceived to be hostile to Saddam.

A defense attorney deferred his opening statement to a later time.

Benjamin faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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