Kherchtou previously described el Hage as someone bin Laden knew well and considered trustworthy.

CNN: Witness backtracks at embassy bombings trial

Wadih el Hage, a 41-year-old naturalized American of Lebanese descent, was also sentenced to life.

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Schmidt asked Kherchtou what he told his first interrogator about el Hage 2.5 years ago in Kenya.

CNN: Witness backtracks at embassy bombings trial

"Yes, " Al-Fadl replied, adding that el Hage's U.S. passport made him valuable because it made his business travel easier.

CNN: Al-Fadl

Until Tuesday, no witness, including two defectors from bin Laden's group, had said el Hage actually belonged to al Qaeda.

CNN: Witness backtracks at embassy bombings trial

Under further cross-examination by el Hage attorney Sam Schmidt, Kherchtou backtracked, saying he did not know whether el Hage actually belonged.

CNN: Witness backtracks at embassy bombings trial

"No one is taking any chances, " said Rabih Hage, a London-based architect.

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Mohannad Hage Ali of the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Hayat, cites the tone of the letter as a reason he doubts its authenticity.

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Al-Fadl had testified that he was aware of el Hage's activities in 1993 and 1994 in Sudan and that he knew him personally.

CNN: Al-Fadl

Along with el Hage, Mohamed al'Owhali, a 24-year-old Saudi, and Mohamed Odeh, a 35-year-old Jordanian, also are being tried on charges that they took part in the Kenya bombing.

CNN: Al-Fadl

But under questioning from Schmidt, the witness could not say which of el Hage's arms is disabled, which hand he writes with, nor could he name el Hage's seven children.

CNN: Al-Fadl