A Yemeni court has sentenced three al-Qaeda members to up to seven years in prison after convicting them of plotting to assassinate President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi and foreign diplomats.On Sunday, the state security court in the capital Sanaa sentenced Abdullah al-Kheishani to seven years in prison, Maher al-Ramim to five years and Omar al-Najjar to one year.
Kheishani and Ramim were convicted of monitoring, planning and preparing for the assassination of Hadi outside his residence using a vehicle laden with explosives.
They were also convicted of monitoring the movements of foreign diplomats, including US Ambassador to Yemen Gerald Feierstein, to prepare to target them.
Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the weak Yemeni central government to expand their presence in the impoverished country.
Al-Qaeda loyalists have carried out a spate of deadly attacks against Yemeni security forces since dictator Ali Abdullah Salehs successor, President Hadi, came to power in February 2012.
In May 2012, the Yemeni military launched an all-out offensive and retook a string of towns in Abyan Province, where al-Qaeda loyalists had established themselves.
By Press TV
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