Trial of Alleged Lebanese-Swedish Terror Suspect Postponed in Cyprus

The trial of a man believed to be involved in the planning of a suspected terrorist attack against Israeli interests on Cyprus has been postponed.

Criminal court judges agreed Wednesday to reschedule the trial for Sept. 28 to give 24-year-old suspect Hosham Taleb's lawyer time to review a new set of charges presented by the state prosecutor.

Taleb, a Swedish national of Lebanese descent, originally faced 17 charges — including espionage and conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack — but lawyer Antonis Georgiades says they have now been reduced to eight "different" ones.

A security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the case said Taleb — suspected of Hizbullah affiliation - was monitoring and recording the movements of Israeli tourists before his July arrest.