Signaling that he has no intention of putting on a compliant face for the men and women who will decide his fate, accused Sept. 11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui began his death-penalty trial Monday by complaining about his appointed lawyers, declaring that he was part of al Qaida and calling the proceedings a “circus” in front of a panel of prospective jurors.

Just moments after Moussaoui, with a full beard, long hair and dressed in a green prison jumpsuit, was escorted into the Alexandria, Va., federal court to hear U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema make introductory remarks to about 125 potential jurors, he interrupted and ignored instructions to keep quiet.

“These lawyers are not my lawyers,” said the French-Moroccan defendant, who has long sought to represent himself, but was barred from doing so by Brinkema because of unruly behavior. “… I don’t want to be represented by these lawyers.”

When Brinkema ordered marshals to remove him from the courtroom, Moussaoui put his hands on his head and said he was not resisting, but continued speaking. “I’m al-Qaida. They are American,” he said as he was taken out. “They are my enemies. They have nothing to do with these people. This trial is a circus.”

Moussaoui was later allowed to return to the courtroom, but his behavior did not improve: the scene was repeated in near-identical fashion three more times.

Altogether, 500 prospective jurors appeared Monday in four groups of 125 to hear introductory remarks and fill out questionnaires, and Moussaoui made similar remarks in front of each panel before being hustled out. During two afternoon sessions, he also announced he would testify.

“For four years I have waited,” he said to one panel. “I will tell them the truth I know. I will take the stand.” As he disappeared through the door, he added, “They are lying from top to end.”

The behavior echoed his conduct during pre-trial hearings since 2001, where he has regularly railed against his lawyers and declared his hostility toward America, leading to questions about his mental competency. Brinkema told jurors to indicate on their questionnaires if Moussaoui’s behavior would affect their impartiality.

Legal experts said the judge may eventually remove Moussaoui and have him watch on closed-circuit television if he is repeatedly disruptive, but must act carefully because defendants generally have a right to be present during testimony – especially in a death-penalty case.

Moussaoui, 37, was arrested in August 2001, when his behavior at a Minnesota flight school aroused suspicions. He pleaded guilty last year to joining an al-Qaida conspiracy to attack Americans with hijacked planes, but says he was not part of the Sept. 11 plot. In order to impose the death penalty, prosecutors must prove that Moussaoui’s lies about his terror plans in 2001 allowed the Sept. 11 hijackings to go forward.