Specialist Ryan Anderson, 26, a convert to Islam, was arrested at his apartment in Lynnwood, in the northwestern US state of Washington, in February and charged with attempting to pass US intelligence to the terrorist network.

Anderson, who is in Iraq, will not be present at the trial, which will be conducted by a panel of commissioned officers. Two-thirds of the hearing officers must agree to find him guilty on any one of the five charges.

Neither prosecutor Chris Jenks nor defense attorney Joseph Morse made any public statement. None of the witnesses to be called or evidence to be used has been identified.

On August 9 Anderson declared his innocence to five charges of seeking to collaborate with Al-Qaeda.

The US Army alleged earlier that Anderson tried to give intelligence to the enemy about "US Army troop strength, movements, equipment, tactics and weapon systems," as well as "methods and means of killing US Army personnel and destroying US Army weapon systems and equipment."

The military has decided not to seek the death penalty against him.

Anderson was a member of the Washington National Guard's 81st Armored Brigade, which was preparing to deploy to Iraq when he was arrested.

He was charged with attempting to communicate with the enemy, attempting to aid the enemy, attempting to pass intelligence to the enemy and attempting to wrongfully provide information to Al-Qaeda.

Anderson was taken into custody by army and federal law enforcement authorities after an undercover sting operation intercepted communications on January 23 and February 10.

Anderson, who joined the National Guard in May 2002, was reported to have attempted to make contact with Al-Qaeda through Internet chat rooms.