The al-Qaida leader accused of masterminding the September 11 attacks and four co-conspirators faced a military judge today in their first appearance before a war-crimes tribunal.

Military judges have dismissed charges against a Guantanamo detainee who chauffeured Osama bin Laden and another who allegedly killed a US soldier in Afghanistan.

US TROOPS urged civilians to flee Fallujah yesterday and launched air strikes on the rebel city ahead of an assault seen as critical to attempts to pacify Iraq before January elections.