An Al-Qaeda suspect, on trial along with three fellows on charges of planning terrorist attacks and fighting the authorities, said on Sunday he worked for the Intelligence Agency in Yemen, denying charges of having links to Al-Qaeda or planning attacks.

At the hearing in the Specialized Penal Court in Sana'a, Badr Ahmed said his affiliation to Al-Qaeda was arranged by the agency to expose terrorist members and plots.

I wondered how they turned over me to the court while my mission was to join the group to provide the agency with information about terrorists, he said, requesting the jury to call an intelligence officer, named Abdullah Al-Ashwal, who can prove the fact.

His request was accepted, and the suspect denied the words the authorities said he made during investigations, saying the speech was fabricated.

Badr Ahmed was one of a four-member Al-Qaeda cell accused of planning attacks against vital local and foreign interests and tourists and facing the authorities in Marib Province. The group included a German and an Iraqi.

He is 31 years old while the three remain juveniles aged below 16. Their trial started on 20 September and during the first hearing they also faced charges of training in the use of weapons as well as planning suicide attacks.