SANAA, 18 July 2004 — A Yemeni court yesterday ordered a probe into claims by 14 terrorist suspects that they were tortured during their detention at an intelligence prison.

Chief judge Ahmad Al-Jurmozi said he would lead a team to check out conditions of the accused in detention.

The move was in response to repeated appeals by the defendants to be transferred from the prison of the Political Security Organization (intelligence) to a public prison.

Some of the defendants said they were subjected to psychological pressure. Others said they were severely beaten by intelligence officers.

Fawaz Yahya Al-Rabyee, 27, a main suspect wanted by US authorities over suspected links to the terror Al-Qaeda network, told the court he was interrogated by US officers in the intelligence prison.

We were investigated by Americans in our country. How could that be accepted, Al-Rabyee said.

During the 30-minute hearing, the suspects shouted anti-US slogans and praised Al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden.

The defendants continued their refusal to enter pleas during the hearing, the seventh since the trial began on May 29.

Only one of the 15 defense lawyers was present at yesterday’s hearing.

Fayez Al-Hajuri, who is representing defendant Fawaz Al-Wajih, attended the one-hour hearing along with public prosecutor Ali Al-Samet. It was not clear why the rest of the defense team were absent.

The defendants asked to be transferred to the central prison but their request was rejected by the public prosecutor for “security reasons” before the hearing was adjourned until July 24.

The defendants, accused of forming an armed group to endanger security in Yemen, face a variety of charges, principally the attack on French oil supertanker Limburg as it prepared to enter Ash-Shir port, off Yemen’s southeastern coast nearly two years ago. One Bulgarian crew member was killed and 12 others wounded when an explosion ripped through the tanker.

Other charges include plotting attacks on Yemeni intelligence service offices and the murder of police officers.

Prosecutors said the 14 men also planned for suicide bomb attacks on embassies of the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Cuba, and plotted to assassinate US Ambassador Edmund J. Hull. The attacks never happened.

The trial of six suspects charged with bombing the US destroyer Cole and accused of membership of the Al-Qaeda network opened here June 6. The October 2000 attack in Aden port left 17 US sailors dead.