U.S. prosecutors preparing to try accused September 11 plotters expect criticism if they seek to use defendants' statements as evidence, because of the abuse of suspects during interrogation. But they say it will not deter them.

A team of federal prosecutors working under military leadership is helping to prepare cases against "high-value" terrorism suspects including five facing charges of participating in the September 11, 2001, attacks.

The cases begin next week with the arraignment of the five at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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The authorities are mulling whether and how to use the defendants' own words against them, despite accusations that harsh CIA and military interrogations have rendered any information obtained from them unreliable.

"Certainly there's a number of prosecutions where we're going to try to draw upon statements defendants have made. It's evolving," said a U.S. official involved in the process.

He said the prosecutors were aware of the questions surrounding defendants' statements and have been "judicious in what they seek to have admitted."

"No matter which statements the government offers, there will be an extraordinary hue and cry," he said. He said cases were unlikely to be decided by statements alone.

The officials spoke to Reuters this week, before the September 11 suspects are arraigned next Thursday at a Guantanamo military war crimes court. The suspects will be asked basic questions about their representation by an attorney and given an opportunity to enter a plea.

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