TUNIS - Two of the 30 Tunisians on trial for terrorism and plotting to overthrow their government have been sentenced to death and another eight to life imprisonment, a judicial source said Sunday. Seven other defendants on trial since November 20 were jailed for 30 years, while all the others received sentences of five to 20 years, the source said.They had been accused of being members of the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, now known as Al Qaeda in the Maghreb. Most of them were arrested after clashes with security forces in December 2006 and January 2007 which claimed 14 lives, including that of a policeman and a member of the security forces.
They were accused of planning to attack TunisiaÂ’s central bank and a security zone. They were also charged with plotting against the security of the state, attempted attacks to subvert the regime, assassinations, possession of illegal weapons and membership of a terrorist group.