PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC):

One of the five members of a commission of inquiry probing the activities that led to the 1990 attempted overthrow of the Trinidad and Tobago government by members of the radical Muslim group, the Jamaat Al-Muslimeen, has asked to be excused after one newspaper queried his qualifications.

The Trinidad Guardian newspaper said that Dr Hafizool Ali Mohammed had obtained his doctorate of science in international relations from Atlantic International University, which is described by various Web sites as a diploma mill.

In addition, the newspaper reported yesterday that it had unearthed more discrepancies in his curriculum vitae (CV).

"Mohammed claims to have a degree from a prestigious military university in the US, which has never heard of him," the newspaper reported, adding "among the referees he lists on his CV are a dead president of T&T and a non-existent president of Turkey."