SANAA, 14 June 2005 — A Yemeni state security court yesterday set July 11 for the verdict in the case of eight suspected Al-Qaeda supporters charged with plotting to blow up Western embassies in Yemen.
The court held its ninth and final hearing yesterday in the trial of an Iraqi, two Syrians and five Yemenis during which prosecutors and defense lawyers summed up their arguments. Three representatives of the US Department of Justice attended the session.
In his argument, prosecutor Khaled Al-Mawri said the defendants posed a “threat to society” and asked the court to hand down the maximum sentences of between ten to 15 years in jail. Muhammad Al-Ezzani, a lawyer defending six of the suspects, called on the court to acquit his clients, arguing that their arrests were not legal.
He said the defendants were detained by the country’s Political Security (intelligence) office far beyond legal time periods. He also argued that there was “no solid evidence” to convict the defendants.
The eight men were charged with planning to attack the British and Italian embassies and a French cultural center in Sanaa.
Prosecutors have submitted to the court documents seized by police showing that the group had also planned to attack military bases in Saudi Arabia, as well as US civilians, Western companies, restaurants and schools in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Among the documents were maps and alleged attack plans and orders for explosives and rocket-propelled grenades.
When the trial began on March 21, only three of the defendants pleaded guilty to planning attack on the British Embassy, but they and the other five suspects denied involvement in a conspiracy to blow up the Italian Embassy or the French center.
The court was also told that the defendants belonged to an Al-Qaeda affiliated organization called the “Tawheed Brigades.”
