US prosecutors have claimed the British shoe-bomb suspect should be prosecuted under America's new anti-terrorism law as the legal debate over the charges continues.
Mr Richard Reid is accused of trying to blow up a plane with an explosive device hidden in his shoes.
US Attorney Mr Michael Sullivan is trying to prevent an attempt by Mr Reid's lawyers to have one of the nine counts against him thrown out.
The defence has argued that planes were not vehicles of mass transportation. Therefore it said Mr Reid, from Brixton, could not be prosecuted for attempting to wreck a mass transportation vehicle, a charge created by US Congress in the Patriot Act passed after the September 11th attacks.
But prosecutors argued "the plain meaning of each term . . . includes aircraft", and that Congress clearly intended to provide the broadest possible protection.
Defence lawyers also argue that under the new law, Mr Reid's alleged acts would only be a crime if he had actually succeeded in igniting the explosives.
Prosecutors said that interpretation would "defeat the plain intent of Congress" and strained "normal English usage".
Mr Reid (28) has been in custody since December 22nd when he allegedly attempted to ignite the explosives in his shoes during a transatlantic flight from Paris to Miami.
He has denied nine charges that include attempting to murder the 197 passengers and crew.
The indictment said Mr Reid received training from Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan.
PA