Former 'enemy combatant' pleads guilty in Illinois

PEORIA, Ill. – A man whose case sparked a furious legal debate over whether the government can hold terrorism suspects indefinitely entered a surprise guilty plea, admitting to training in al-Qaida camps and coming to the nation's heartland a day before Sept. 11.

Ali al-Marri, 43, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiring to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. A second charge of providing material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization was dropped. ....