Uzbek pleads guilty in plot to kill Obama

Authorities said Ulugbek Kodirov had discussed trying to kill the president as he campaigned for re-election because he would be out in public more often.

Kodirov entered the plea during a hearing in Birmingham before US District Judge Abdul K Kallon, an Obama appointee.

Defence lawyer Lance Bell said the 22-year-old Kodirov avoided a potential life sentence by pleading guilty. He faces up to 30 years in prison, though Bell expected Kodirov to receive about half that.

The judge also told Kodirov that he will face deportation once he's released from prison.

Kodirov pleaded guilty to three counts: threatening to kill the president, possessing an automatic weapon, and providing material support to terrorists. Four other charges were dropped as part of the deal.

The plea agreement says that in July 2011 Kodirov began communicating with a person known as "the Emir."

Kodirov said the person was a member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which has been designated a terrorist organisation by the US State Department.

The agreement does not reveal the identity of "the Emir" or say whether the government believes he actually is an Uzbek terrorist.

The Emir "asked Kodirov if there was anything Kodirov could do about President Obama since Kodirov was closer geographically to the president than the Emir."

Kodirov and the person discussed possible ways to kill Obama, including from long distance using a sniper rifle.

The agreement says Kodirov became disheartened when he realised how expensive sniper rifles are and realised he lacked the skill to pull off the shot. Kodirov then decided he could shoot the president from a closer distance in public.

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