NEW YORK, Aug 19 (Reuters) - A man U.S. authorities called a former Syrian soldier pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to trying to sell weapons in exchange for nearly one tonne of cocaine to U.S. informants posing as Colombian rebels.

Jamal Yousef, also known as Talal Hassan Ghantou, was transferred to New York on Wednesday after serving a prison sentence on separate charges in Honduras. U.S. authorities were unable to immediately determine his nationality.

Yousef is charged with one count of Narco-terrorism conspiracy for plotting to sell weapons including 200 assault rifles, 2,500 hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenades in exchange for 938 kilograms of cocaine to informants posing as Colombian FARC rebels in Honduras from July 2008.

Yousef, who according to U.S. prosecutors is a former member of the Syrian military, pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court and was detained in prison.

During negotiations, Yousef said the weapons had been stolen from Iraq and were being stored in Mexico, U.S. authorities said.

According to U.S. and Colombian authorities, the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, funds its operations through cocaine trafficking and extortion. U.S. officials say it has evolved into the world's biggest supplier of cocaine. (Reporting by Christine Kearney, editing by Todd Eastham)

AlertNet news is provided by