Pakistani interrupts NY hearing, says not psychotic

* Hearing considers mental health of Aafia Siddiqui

* Neuroscientist accused of US troop attack speaks out (Adds details, byline)

By Christine Kearney

NEW YORK, July 6 (Reuters) - A Pakistani woman charged with trying to kill American interrogators in Afghanistan spoke out publicly for the first time at a hearing held on Monday to determine if she is mentally fit to stand trial.

Aafia Siddiqui, 37, a U.S.-trained neuroscientist who the U.S. government says has suspected links to al Qaeda, interrupted the hearing several times where psychiatrists and mental health experts gave differing opinions on her mental state.

"Please take me seriously, I am not psychotic," Siddiqui said, interrupting a doctor's testimony. Wearing a white hijab covering all but her eyes, she spoke loudly and gestured to activists and reporters in the courtroom gallery while several doctors were questioned.

Prosecutors say Siddiqui grabbed a U.S. warrant officer's rifle in mid-2008 while she was detained for questioning in Afghanistan and fired it at the interrogation team, which included two FBI agents, but no one was hit. The warrant officer then shot her with his pistol.

Siddiqui was transferred to the United States and charged with attempted murder and assault of U.S. soldiers. She has pleaded not guilty and no one has been able to verify her whereabouts for the five years before her arrest.

GRANDIOSITY DELUSIONS OR DELIBERATE PLOY

Monday's five-hour hearing was held after a court-ordered evaluation found her unfit for trial as a result of mental illness and U.S. District Judge Richard Berman ordered further evaluations.

Thomas Kucharski, a psychologist called by Siddiqui's defense lawyers, said she was suffering from delusions, including that the judge and her own lawyer were part of a conspiracy out to get her and that people had tried to poison her at a medical facility in Fort Worth, Texas, where she is being held.

But psychiatrist Sally Johnson, called by prosecutors, said she believed any perceived delusions were part of deliberate behavior to make herself look fragile and mentally incompetent in an attempt to avoid trial.

Siddiqui begged to activists to hear her message.

"God willing I can fix the mess in Afghanistan and Pakistan," she said, before talking about various topics including being silenced, bruises from strip searches, being tortured "as part of their game" and helping U.S. President Barack Obama make peace.

The judge said he would not immediately rule and would consider further submissions from lawyers. (Editing by Michelle Nichols and Vicki Allen)