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| International |
| Yemen springs four terror loonies |
| 2001-10-12 |
An appeals court in Yemen has reduced the prison sentences given to four Islamic militants in last year's bombing of the British Embassy. The court cut the sentence given two defendants, Abu Bakr Gaiyul and Ahmed Masoud, from 15 to 10 years. Two others saw sentences reduced from six years to four years, and from four years to two years. No explanation was given for the reductions. All are alleged to belong to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army. The group is thought to have been founded by Yemenis and other Arabs who fought against the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s and then returned home to wage jihad, or holy war, against their own governments. They are against foreign presence on their territories. The bombing on October 13 shattered windows at the embassy and neighbouring buildings and damaged an embassy generator, but caused no injuries. The embassy attack came one day after suicide bombers blasted a hole in the hull of the destroyer USS Cole in Aden harbour, killing 17 US sailors. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |