Yemen jails six al Qaeda suspects over attack plots

SANAA – Six al Qaeda suspects were sentenced by a Yemeni court yesterday to up to four years in prison after being convicted of plotting attacks on Western targets in Gulf States.

Iraqi ringleader Anwar al-Jilani, 20, was sentenced to four years, while the five others – including Yemeni and Syrian nationals – received sentences ranging from two years to 40 months. Two other defendants were acquitted.The six were convicted of forming an armed gang to carry out attacks, forging passports and other documents, and possessing arms and explosives.They were also convicted of plotting to attack the British and Italian embassies and the French cultural centre in the Yemeni capital.As the two acquitted defendants chanted “Allah is the greatest” following the verdict, their convicted comrades vowed to appeal.”I swear by the name of Allah that the accusations are false…We will appeal the verdict,” Jilani said.The trial of the eight defendants opened in March amid high security and intense public interest.- Nampa-AFPTwo other defendants were acquitted.The six were convicted of forming an armed gang to carry out attacks, forging passports and other documents, and possessing arms and explosives.They were also convicted of plotting to attack the British and Italian embassies and the French cultural centre in the Yemeni capital.As the two acquitted defendants chanted “Allah is the greatest” following the verdict, their convicted comrades vowed to appeal.”I swear by the name of Allah that the accusations are false…We will appeal the verdict,” Jilani said.The trial of the eight defendants opened in March amid high security and intense public interest.- Nampa-AFP