Suspect in Ark. soldier's death seeks bigger stage

By JEANNIE NUSS Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The Muslim man who confessed to shooting two soldiers outside a military recruiting station in Arkansas, and killing one, claims he's being treated like a common criminal with a state murder charge.

Abdulhakim Muhammad goes on trial this week in Little Rock in the death of Army Pvt. William Andrew Long. He has confessed to The Associated Press, the judge handling his case and others, hoping the world would pay attention to the war he declared on the United States.

Muhammad claims his case should be tried in federal or military court, and he says charging him in state court increases the chance he'll be executed.

State prosecutors say the murder charge is fitting because Muhammad committed a drive-by shooting like a common thug.