COURT UPHOLDS AL-QAEDA MAY VERDICT

SANA'A, Dec. 29 (Saba) - The Specialized Penal Court upheld on
Tuesday a May verdict in the case of four Yemenis charged with
having links to al-Qaeda and planning terrorist attacks,
sentencing them to two to three years in jail.

The four of a terrorist cell, known as Musaik ring, were convicted
of forming an armed gang and planning to commit terrorist attacks
inside the capital, Sana'a, including targeting tourists.

During the hearing chaired by Judge Muhammad al-Hakimi, the court
upheld all provisions in the verdict that was delivered on May 05.

In may, three of the convicted today Tawfiq Sa'ad al-Faqih, Muath
Ali al-Zuraid and Nabil Ahmed Ali al-Suraihi were sentenced to three
years in prison and the fourth Ali Hizam Ghurab was given a two-year
sentence.

They were charged with planning to attack tourists at tourist
attractions in Sana'a including the Dar al-Hajar and security and
vital economic facilities as well as the headquarters of the Red
Cross on the Yemeni-Saudi border.

FR