Jordanian Court Jails Anti-U.S. Militants
Twelve Islamic militants screamed praise for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the U.S. as a Jordanian court jailed them for up to three years Sunday for plotting strikes against the U.S. and Israeli embassies here in the Jordanian capital.
The convicted defendants -- mostly Jordanians, including those of Palestinian descent -- were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 18 months to three years after being found guilty of conspiring in 2004 to attack the embassies.
The 12 defendants also were accused of planning attacks on a hotel that was popular with Israeli tourists in Irbid, the home of a cultural festival director and an American troupe performing at the annual event.
Prosecutors did not say how the defendants, who were held in August and September 2004, planned to attack the missions.
Wearing prison uniforms and sporting long beards, the militants stood behind bars in the courtroom dock to hear the guilty verdicts, which can be appealed.
The court acquitted four other defendants, citing insufficient evidence.
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