U.S. Charges Australian With Helping Taliban

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration filed charges yesterday against David Hicks, an Australian suspected of aiding the Taliban in Afghanistan and the first terrorism-war era detainee to be charged under the new law for military commissions.

The decision was made even though officials of Australia already had asked America not to bring such charges. Australia has been a steadfast ally to the Bush administration in its war on terrorism.

Mr. Hicks, whose case has drawn international attention, is a former kangaroo skinner captured in Afghanistan in December 2001. He has been held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for more than five years without trial.

According to a Defense Department announcement, Mr. Hicks is being charged with "providing material support for terrorism." He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

American officials assured the Australians nearly a year ago that, if convicted, Mr. Hicks could serve his sentence in Australia, a defense official said.

Despite a recommendation by military prosecutors that he also be charged with attempted murder for battling coalition forces in Afghanistan, officials decided to drop that charge.