Koblenz, Germany - A Pakistan-born man who is accused of raising funds for al-Qaeda remained silent Monday at the start of his trial in Germany.

Prosecutors told the trial in the western city of Koblenz that he had visited a terrorist camp.

The defendant, 46, claimed to police his four trips to the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan between April 2005 and June 2007 had been purely connected to his work as a gem merchant.

He was accused of being a member of a terrorist organization, sending it funds and supplies. The trial is expected to last into next year.

Prosecutors say the man, who lives in the German town of Germersheim and has German citizenship, also encouraged others to join al-Qaeda. He was arrested in Germany in February after Pakistan had detained him, then released him.

He exercised his right to identify himself but otherwise remain silent at the start of the trial. He has claimed to German journalists that a confession he made in Pakistan was uttered under torture.

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001 and is the principal target of the anti-terrorism campaigns by western nations. (dpa)