Media groups seek access to terrorism evidence (AP)

[Yahoo!_news]

AP - News organizations asked a federal judge on Thursday to grant the media access to copies of audio and video court records key to the upcoming trial against a terrorism suspect.

The motion seeks access to about 12 hours of an audiotaped FBI interview with Syed Haris Ahmed, who is set to go on trial Monday on charges that he aided a terrorist group.

It also seeks videos that prosecutors say he and another suspect filmed of potential terrorist targets in Washington.

"The public is entitled to understand the basis for the government's prosecution of Defendant Ahmed, and these audio and video exhibits are essential to properly appreciate the evidence in this case," wrote Thomas Clyde, an attorney who represents The Associated Press, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CNN and WSB-TV.

The audio and video tapes were submitted as evidence by federal prosecutors in January 2008, and Ahmed's attorney asked that the exhibits be sealed. A federal magistrate denied the request, but said the order was pending a review by a federal judge.

The motion contends the judge has yet to address the order.

Clyde said providing the press with a transcript of the tapes won't suffice.

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