John Walker Lindh, the young convert to Islam who left California to fight alongside the Taliban, has pleaded guilty to two charges in a surprise deal that spares him life in prison and ensures his co-operation with US terrorism investigators.

JOHN WALKER LINDH, the American Taliban captured in Afghanistan, escaped life imprisonment yesterday after his lawyers reached a surprise deal with prosecutors.

John Walker Lindh's trial will likely start in late August, raising the odds the former Taliban soldier will be in court on the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The American captured with Taliban fighters is being held by Marines in Afghanistan and will be handed over to US civilian authorities as soon as possible, the Pentagon has said.

US forces have questioned an American found among Taliban fighters but have not yet decided what to do with him.