American Taliban refused bail

American Taliban suspect John Walker Lindh has been ordered to be held in custody pending trial on charges of conspiring to kill countrymen.

Virginian Judge Curtis Sewell said no combination of conditions could permit the 20-year-old's release.

He turned aside pleas by Lindh's parents that he be released in their custody.

The judge, sitting in the Washington suburb of Alexandria, rejected arguments that Lindh presented no danger of absconding.

"It may be argued by the defence that the defendant is a loyal American," Sewell said, "but the evidence before the court belies that assumption."

Assistant US Attorney Randy Bellows, declared after the hearing: "Our view is that John Lindh is a committed terrorist who not only talked the talk, but walked the walk."

Defence lawyer James Brosnahan said he asked Attorney General John Ashcroft not to use Lindh to take out his frustrations on terrorism.

He said he asked Ashcroft to refrain from commenting on the case.

"In my view they have brought out the cannon to shoot the mouse," he said.

Lindh, familiar to Americans from television images in Afghanistan with long hair and a full. scraggly beard, had his hair shaved close and no beard for his court appearance.