SANAA, 11 April 2004 — Yemen yesterday released two British Muslims convicted five years ago on charges of terrorism and plotting sabotage in the Arab country, police officials said.

The pair, Malik Nassir Harhara, 30, and Mouhsin Ghailan, 23, were granted an early release before the end of their seven-year terms, a police official told Arab News.

The official, who requested anonymity, said the two men were released from a prison in the southern port city of Aden and left for London.

The two were among eight Britons of Pakistani and Arab origins convicted in August 1999 by a Yemeni court of forming an armed group and planning attacks against US and British targets in Yemen.

Five of the eight were sentenced to jail terms of between three and seven years. The three others were sentenced to time served and released in September 1999.

Yemeni authorities said at the time the men had been sent to Yemen on a bombing mission by the London-based radical preacher Abu-Hamza Al-Masri, also known as Mustafa Kamil.

Harhara, and Ghailan, a stepson of Al-Masri, were both sentenced to seven years. Shahid Butt, 37, and Sarmad Ahmed, 26, were jailed for five years and released last December at the end of their terms.

Mohammed Mustafa Kamil, 21, a son of Al-Masri, received three years. He was released in January last year.

Yemeni officials said the early release of Harhara and Ghailan was aimed at improving bilateral relations, which were strained following the arrests.

Six Killed as Police, Robbers Clash

Four policemen and two armed robbers were killed yesterday in a shootout in the Ar-Rawda suburb of the Yemeni capital, eyewitnesses said.

They said four policemen were killed when the armed men opened fire at a police patrol car as it tried to stop the men’s car and another government-owned car they had stolen.

Two of the three bandits were then killed by security forces sent to the scene to chase them.

A police officer at the scene said the third robber managed to flee and was being pursued by security forces.

Police found in the men’s car a bag containing dozens of stolen car license plates, the officer said. “That indicates that they were part of a car robbery band,” he said.