The penalty phase in the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui, the only al Qaeda member charged in the United States in connection with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, will begin on Jan. 9, 2006.

District Judge Leonie Brinkema on Friday ordered the jury selection for the penalty phase to begin on Jan. 9, 2006, and that opening statements and evidence to begin on Feb. 6, 2006.

Moussaoui, a French citizen, pleaded guilty on April 22 to six conspiracy charges over the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people. Four of the charges carry the capital punishment, and he could face the death penalty.

Moussaoui was arrested in August 2001 before the attacks on immigration charges, and was indicted in December 2001.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2005)