LONDON - Two defendants accused of plotting to detonate liquid explosives aboard trans-Atlantic jets in 2006 have pleaded guilty to lesser charges.

Arafat Waheed Khan, 27, and Waheed Zaman, 24, admitted today to "conspiring to commit a public nuisance."

But they still deny conspiring to kill thousands of people by smuggling liquid explosives onto jets bound from London to North America and detonating them in flight.

They and six other British Muslims are on trial, charged in the alleged plot.

All eight deny the charge of conspiracy to murder.

Three of the defendants pleaded guilty earlier this month to plotting to cause explosions - though not on planes. Seven defendants have so far admitted to plotting to cause a public nuisance.

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