Jordan: Some 13 persons found not guilty

The state security in Jordan yesterday found not guilty a group of 13 persons accused of conspiring to attack American targets because there was not enough evidence but sentenced them to 15 year imprisonment for having unlicensed weapons.

The court sentenced some 11 convicted persons for an imprisonment period of 15 to 7 years under the charges of having explosives which are not legally licensed." Issam Muhammad Taher al-Oteibi was not found guilty though he is considered the guide ( Murshid) for Abu Musab al- Zarqawi and Saud Muhammad Ali al-Khaleylah, the cousin of al-Zarqawi because there is not enough evidence against him.

The court commission chairman judge Fawaz al-Baqoour considered that "the convicted persons search for American forces in Jordan was an impossible target for them because there are no such forces on the Jordanian territories.

Some 10 Jordanians are being tried including al-Maqdisi and Muhammad al-Shalabi known as Abu Sayyaf who is one of the major figures among the accused men. He was sentenced to 15 year imprisonment and three Saudis in absentia.