Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba ? An Australian terror suspect pleaded guilty Monday to a war-crime charge of providing material support to terrorism.

David Hicks was the first detainee to face prosecution under revised military tribunals set up after the Supreme Court found the Pentagon’s previous system for trying Guantanamo prisoners unconstitutional. He is accused of fighting alongside al-Qaida in Afghanistan.

Hicks entered the plea before a military judge in a courtroom on this U.S. naval base. Hicks had deferred entering a plea during his arraignment earlier in the day, but the presiding officer, Marine Col. Ralph Kohlmann, convened another session after lawyers told him Hicks would enter a plea.

Kohlmann ordered attorneys to attend another session today to sort out details of the plea. He did not discuss sentencing.

Hicks’ Pentagon-appointed attorney, Marine Corps Maj. Michael Mori, told the judge that his client would plead guilty to one of two counts of providing material support for terrorism and innocent to the other. Hicks, standing by Mori’s side, told the judge that was his wish.

In the days leading to the hearing, defense attorneys said Hicks did not expect a fair trial at Guantanamo and was considering a plea deal to end his five-year imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay. U.S. officials have said he would be able to serve any sentence in Australia.

Terry Hicks, who had an emotional reunion with his son before the arraignment Monday, had boarded a plane to leave Guantanamo when he was told another session would be held, according to U.S. military officials, and did not appear in the courtroom for the second session.

In the first session Monday, Hicks asked for more lawyers to help defend him but the presiding military officer instead ordered two civilian lawyers, including a Defense Department attorney, to leave the defense table, saying they were not authorized to represent Hicks

Congress enacted a law setting new rules for the tribunals and President Bush signed the measure into law in October.

About 385 prisoners are being held at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay. Hicks, 31, a Muslim convert, is the first detainee charged under the new Military Commissions Act. Officials have said they plan to prosecute as many as 80 prisoners at Guantanamo, and some could face the death penalty. The Australian faces up to life in prison.