21.   Turkish police arrested several Kurdish activists after his alleged confession.

22.   U.S. Embassy officials declined comment on the alleged confession, but said they were still seeking increased access to Wu.

23.   If the court accepts his arguments alleged confessions made by at least one of the defendants cannot be used as evidence against them, lawyers said.

24.   If they prove their case, some of the most damning evidence against the defendants -- including alleged confessions and bloodstained clothing -- could be thrown out of court.

25.   Blanchard said the alleged confession was extracted during a harsh police grilling.

26.   Blanchard said the alleged confession was recounted during harsh police detention.

27.   But police say the officer was emotionally upset and his alleged confession contained ambiguity and discrepancies.

28.   One defendant has withdrawn an alleged confession and the fourth says he acted alone in starting the fire.

29.   The accusations came after alleged confessions by suspects in an armed robbery case in which an Asian shopkeeper was shot and wounded.

30.   The North Koreans published an alleged confession by Hall but it has yet to be authenticated.