20 Tunisians convicted of attacking US Embassy

TUNIS The lawyer for the 20 Tunisians accused of attacking the U.S. Embassy in Tunis says they have been convicted and given two-year suspended sentences. On Sept. 14, a mob of several thousand attacked the embassy in response to an American-made film considered insulting to Islam, and four demonstrators died. Some 73 people were arrested, but most were released for lack of evidence and only 20 went on trial. They were convicted Tuesday night, says defense lawyer Anwar Oued-Ali. He says only nine of them are in custody. After the attack, the government took a tougher stance with religious hardliners known as Salafis.