Yemeni court jails seven al-Qaeda members

A Yemeni military court has convicted seven al-Qaeda suspects, and has handed out sentences ranging from five to ten years.

Suspected Yemeni Al-Qaeda members Abdullah Ahmed Rehabal-Matari (L)  and Amin Abdullah al-Najjar (R) smile behind bars during their  trial at a court in Sanaa.(AFP/Marwan Naamani)

The suspects were charged with forming a military group targeting foreign tourists and institutions as well as government and military targets. They chanted "God is great" after the judge outlined the jail sentences, and claimed they would not stop the fight until Jerusalem was liberated.

The ruling was criticized by an attorney, who argued the evidence against them did not justify the harsh sentences. Several family members and relatives of the suspects accused the court of working to please the US government.