Egypt hands 3 accused Hezbollah cell members life sentences in trial of Lebanese group
By APWednesday, April 28, 2010
Egypt hands life sentences to 3 Hezbollah members
CAIRO — An Egyptian court has convicted and sentenced to life in prison three suspected Hezbollah members from among more than two dozen accused of spying for the Lebanese militants and plotting attacks in Egypt.
The rest of the 26-member group — including Egyptians, West Bank Palestinians and Lebanese nationals — got between six months and 15 years in prison.
The trial, which started in August 2009, is the first time Egypt prosecuted alleged Hezbollah activists.
The charges included planning attacks on tourists and Suez Canal shipping, and sending operatives and explosives to Gaza to help militants there.
Judge Adel Abdelsalam Gomaa pronounced the verdicts on Wednesday at Cairo’s emergency court. The group’s Lebanese leader Mohammad Qiblan was among those sentenced to life.
