AMMAN, Jordan: Eleven men suspected of links to Al-Qaeda have pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges related to an alleged plot to attack the US Embassy and shopping malls in Jordan.

The suspects — two Jordanians and nine Jordanians of Palestinian origin — entered their pleas Thursday at the opening session of their trial at a military court in Amman.

The men have been in police custody since last October.

The indictment accuses them of plotting simultaneous attacks on two shopping malls in the Jordanian capital to distract police as they assaulted the US Embassy.

The plot allegedly called for gunmen killing diplomats on the embassy grounds.

The men face the death penalty, if convicted.