Al-Qaida suspects convicted in Spain

A Spanish court has convicted a suspected al-Qaida cell leader for conspiracy in connection with the September 11 attacks and heading a "terrorist organization."

The accused, Imad Yarkas, was sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy in connection with the 9/11 attacks, and 12 years for being a leader of a "terrorist organization."

However Imad Yarkas' lawyer rejected the sentence.

"There was no proof. There has been nothing. No one has been able to prove anything," he said.

Yarkas, a 42-year-old Spaniard of Syrian origin, had been charged with arranging a meeting in Spain just before the 9/11 attacks, at which key plotters decided last-minute details.

Meanwhile, a Syrian with dual Spanish citizenship, Tayseer Alouni also stood trial in Madrid.

Alouni became famous in the Arab world as Al-Jazeera's correspondent in Kabul and once interviewed Osama Bin Laden.

He was convicted of collaboration and sentenced to seven years in jail.

The third suspect facing specific September 11 charges - and acquitted on Monday - was Ghasoub al-Abrash Ghalyoun, another Syrian-born Spaniard.

Spain is only the second European country after Germany to put September 11 suspects on trial.

Source: CRI News