A total of 24 people are on trial in Madrid starting today. The defendants are suspected of aiding the Al-Qaeda terrorist network and in the case of one man, helping to plan the September 11 attacks on the United States.

The biggest figure standing trial is Syrian born Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, also known as Abu Dahdah. Barakat Yarkas is being tried for helping to plan the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center that took place on September 11, 2001. If convicted on all charges, Barakat Yarkas is facing a maximum prison sentence of more than 62,000 years.

Two other defendants have been charged with planning the September 11 attacks. The first is Driss Chebli, a native of Morocco. Ghasoub Al Abrash Ghalyoun of Syria is also suspected of helping arrange a meeting of the 9/11 terrorists in Spain in July 2001, just two months before the attacks. Mohamad Atta, the alleged leader of the September 11 terrorists was at that meeting according to prosecutors.

All but two of the defendants were placed in a bullet proof booth. The remaining two were allowed to be outside in the courtroom because the booth created possible medical problems for them.

Early exchanges between the three judge panel and the 20 defense attorneys representing the suspects have been tense.

One defendant, a Spanish born convert to Islam, Jose Galan, said he does not believe in terrorism. 'I absolutely condemn all terrorist acts, all violent acts, the spilling of blood of children, women and the elderly. And I don't believe that as a Muslim but as a citizen of any ideology.'

The trial is scheduled to continue on Monday after a long weekend recess.