Three Yemenis face trial for enlisting Israeli help to carry out terrorist acts

Sana'a: A special Yemeni court on Saturday began the trial of three young men on charges of spying for Israel and plotting terrorist acts.

The prosecutor at the State Security Court, Ali Askar, accused Bassam Abdullah Al Haidary, 25; Emad Ali Sa'ad Al Raimi, 23; and Ali Abdullah Saleh Mahfal, 24, of getting in touch with Israeli authorities with the objective of obtaining fin-ancial support to carry out terrorist attacks in Yemen.

The prosecutor produced before the court, chaired by Judge Mohsin Alwan, a computer and documents including records of emails sent by Bassam Abdullah Al Haidary to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

One of the emails which the prosecutor read out in in the courtroom stated: "We are the Islamic Jihad Organisation, we need your support and we are ready to do whatever you want [us to]. You, the Jews, keep your promises... Though you are the enemies of Allah, you are not like the Arab rulers, who lie."

The mail elicited an Israeli response indicating it was willing to play the role of an agent, Askar told the court.

The three defendants denied all the charges as untrue and requested legal representatives.

The judge adjourned the hearing to January 17.

The three accused belong to a six-member group nabbed on September 21, 2008 in Sana'a, after it claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on the US embassy on September 17. The group identified itself as Islamic Jihad Organisation, under the chairmanship of Abu Al Gaith Al Yamani. Security officials suspect Bassam Abdullah Al Haidari is Al Yamani.