Lawyers' group of Yemeni explosives' case withdrew

The group of lawyers representing eight British and Algerian suspects who are currently on trial in Yemen for actions relating to terrorism announced that they are abandoning the issue in protest over the way in which the Yemeni courts neglect the legal rights of lawyers.

One of the lawyers, Sheikh Tarek Abdullah, said that the lawyers withdrew because the court did not conduct its measures according to the principals of the law and the constitution.

He added that since the lawyers were briefed on the files and investigations, it was evident that the government is not considering the provinces of the law, especially in areas concerned with lawyers' rights and free defense.

He said that the government's action after the lawyers' withdrawal will take one of three possibilities: The government could appoint other lawyers if the accused agree, the court could continue the issue without lawyers, or the court and general prosecution could request the lawyers to sit with them to brief them on the case.