DATE=9/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=JORDAN / TERRORISTS SENTENCED (L)
NUMBER=2-266731
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A military court in Jordan has sentenced six-
men to death and 16-others to prison terms for
plotting terrorist attacks. Correspondent Scott Bobb
reports from our Middle East Bureau, six other
defendants were acquitted.
TEXT: Jordan's State Security Court handed down the
sentences in Amman, saying those sentenced to death
had a determined will to carry out attacks against
American and Jewish interests.
Sixteen defendants were given terms ranging from
seven-years to life in prison. Twelve are fugitives
and were convicted in absentia. The court cited a
lack of evidence for the six acquittals.
The 28-defendents, most of them Jordanians of
Palestinian origin, were charged with plotting to
attack Biblical tourist attractions in Jordan during
millennium celebrations earlier this year. They were
also charged with manufacturing explosives to use in
bombing attacks.
The defendants deny the charges and say their
confessions were obtained under duress. The verdicts
are automatically appealed (to Jordan's Court of
Cassation).
The court also ruled the defendants had no
organizational affiliation. This appears to reject a
charge by the prosecution that they had ties to the
Qaeda organization of Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.
The Islamist leader is wanted for bombings that killed
224-people two-years ago at the U-S embassies in Kenya
and Tanzania. (SIGNED)
NEB/FSB/WTW/RAE
18-Sep-2000 11:15 AM EDT (18-Sep-2000 1515 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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