By Richard Galpin
BBC News, Vilnius
**An man charged with trying to buy arms and explosives for the dissident Irish republican organisation the Real IRA is to go on trial in Lithuania.**Michael Campbell was arrested in Lithuania after allegedly trying to buy weapons from an intelligence officer posing as an international arms dealer.
His brother, Liam, is leader of the Real IRA, which opposes British rule in Northern Ireland.
It was set up after the mainstream IRA declared a ceasefire 14 years ago.
The Real IRA has claimed responsibility for a number of serious attacks, including the shooting of two British soldiers in Northern Ireland in March.
Mr Campbell’s arrest followed a sting operation involving the British, Irish and Lithuanian intelligence agencies.
Prosecutors in Vilnius told the BBC that following a series of meetings in France and Poland, Mr Campbell eventually came to Lithuania where he was kept under police surveillance.
They allege he paid 10,000 euros ($14,000; £8,600) for a haul of weapons including a sniper rifle, detonators, timers and about 10kg (22lb) of high explosives.
He was detained after allegedly handing over the money in a garage in the industrial zone of Vilnius.
The arms dealers were, in fact, Lithuanian intelligence agents.
Mr Campbell has been charged with the possession and attempted smuggling of illegal weapons and supporting a terrorist organisation.
But his lawyers question the means by which he was detained.
They also say there is not enough evidence to convict him.