A Yemeni judge today sentenced two men, including one held in US custody, to death for orchestrating the 2000 suicide bombing of the USS Cole.
Four others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 10 years. Jamal al-Badawi, a 35-year-old Yemeni, and Saudi-born Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri were both sentenced to death for plotting and being involved in the bombing, which killed 17 American sailors as their destroyer refuelled in Aden Harbour.
Al-Badawi, who was in the heavily guarded court to hear his sentence along with four other Yemenis charged in relation to the bombing, will appeal the sentence, his brother, Mohamed al-Badawi, said.
Al-Nashiri, believed to be the mastermind of the October 12th, 2000 bombing, was the only one of the six men convicted by the judge not in court. He is being held in US custody at an undisclosed location.
