SANA'A (AA) - The Yemeni Penal Court sentenced on Monday eight al-Qaeda militants to prison for 6 to 7 years over convictions of participating in an armed gang to organize killings and bombings in the Yemeni province of Abyan.
Yemen's state news agency SABA reported that a Yemeni chief judge sentenced two of the defendants to seven years in jail while sentencing the other six defendants to six years.
The suspects were charged with their alleged involvement from 2011 until June 30, 2012 in various illegal actions such as carrying out killings and bombings in the southern Abyan province targeting Yemeni army members.
Meanwhile, the clash between al Qaeda militants and Yemeni security forces on Monday left 7 people dead in the Yemeni city of Al Bayda.
Yemeni security forces said 7 al Qaeda militants were killed after being spotted at a checkpoint near the police station at the entry of Al Bayda's Rada region.
Besides, two soldiers were wounded in the clash.
There has been an escalation in attacks and assassinations against government officials and security forces in the Arab country. Yemeni authorities hold an armed group named "Al Qaeda of the Arab Peninsula" responsible.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
