Yemeni court jails three bombers

A primary court yesterday sentenced three Yemenis accused of carrying out bombings in Aden last year to different jail terms.

Court sources said Nasser Awad Al Shaibah was sentenced to six years, Anais Al Awli to two-and-a-half years, while Faras Al Aissae was sentenced to two years. A fourth man, Saleh Hussein Al Dafel, accused of selling explosives used in the bombings, was acquitted of the charges.

All four were accused of bombing the Anglican Church in Aden, the Continental Hotel and the Aden branch of Yemen's official news agency on the occasion of New Year in 2001.

Faras Al Aissae was previously sentenced to three years in jail after being convicted of taking part in a bomb attack on the British Embassy building in Sanaa on October 13, 2000.

The three accused, who refused to seek appeals after listening to the verdict, are described as members of the Jehad Organisation.

It was in Aden port where two suicide bombers attacked the American destroyer, the U.S.S. Cole on October 12, 2000 killing 19 U.S. sailors and injuring 39 others.