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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Saudi terror trials reach verdict | Saudi terror trials reach verdict |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A court in Saudi Arabia has issued verdicts, prosecutors say, in what is thought to be the first terrorism trial for al-Qaeda militants in the kingdom. | A court in Saudi Arabia has issued verdicts, prosecutors say, in what is thought to be the first terrorism trial for al-Qaeda militants in the kingdom. |
| Justice ministry officials say 330 had been on trial, but they did not specify how many had been found guilty. One defendant was given a death sentence. | |
| Al-Qaeda-linked militants launched a violent campaign to destabilise the absolute monarchy in 2003. | Al-Qaeda-linked militants launched a violent campaign to destabilise the absolute monarchy in 2003. |
| The authorities launched an aggressive campaign to stamp it out. | The authorities launched an aggressive campaign to stamp it out. |
| "A specialised criminal court has recently issued several preliminary verdicts in cases of defendants in al-Qaeda and state security terrorism crimes," said a statement from the Bureau of Investigation and General Prosecution, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. | "A specialised criminal court has recently issued several preliminary verdicts in cases of defendants in al-Qaeda and state security terrorism crimes," said a statement from the Bureau of Investigation and General Prosecution, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. |
| The defendants can appeal. | The defendants can appeal. |
| Incriminating evidence | Incriminating evidence |
| A spokesman quoted by AP news agency said the defendants had faced changes of belonging to "the deviant group", used to denote al-Qaeda. | A spokesman quoted by AP news agency said the defendants had faced changes of belonging to "the deviant group", used to denote al-Qaeda. |
| They were accused of supporting and financing terrorism, going to areas of conflict to fight, and conspiracy to create chaos and disrupt security, he said. | They were accused of supporting and financing terrorism, going to areas of conflict to fight, and conspiracy to create chaos and disrupt security, he said. |
| The charges came with "incriminating evidence... and proof that every defendant has carried out the charges against him", he added. | The charges came with "incriminating evidence... and proof that every defendant has carried out the charges against him", he added. |
| Last October, Saudi Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdul Aziz announced that charges had been laid against 991 suspected al-Qaeda militants. | Last October, Saudi Interior Minister Nayef bin Abdul Aziz announced that charges had been laid against 991 suspected al-Qaeda militants. |
| Analysts said until then the government had been reluctant to try suspected militants, fearing a backlash by domestic sympathisers. | Analysts said until then the government had been reluctant to try suspected militants, fearing a backlash by domestic sympathisers. |
| Militants had been responsible for more than 30 attacks in the conservative Muslim kingdom since May 2003, and the authorities claimed to have foiled 160 planned attacks. | Militants had been responsible for more than 30 attacks in the conservative Muslim kingdom since May 2003, and the authorities claimed to have foiled 160 planned attacks. |
| Officials figures say 90 civilians and 74 members of the security forces have been killed, while 439 civilians and 657 members of the security forces had been injured. | Officials figures say 90 civilians and 74 members of the security forces have been killed, while 439 civilians and 657 members of the security forces had been injured. |