Saudi court convicts 8 on terrorism charges

Published April 28, 2013

Associated Press

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia –  The official Saudi news agency says a court has convicted eight men on terrorism-related charges, including plotting attacks on an oil refinery.

The defendants, seven Saudis and one Yemeni, were given prison sentences ranging from four months to eight years.

The official Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday that all eight were banned from traveling abroad for at least one year after their release.

Saudi Arabia runs a rehabilitation program that aims to dissuade militants from fighting alongside al-Qaida.

An audio recording released this month by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula urged Saudis to revolt against the kingdom for allowing U.S. drones to launch missions from its soil and strike militants in neighboring Yemen.

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Kerry talks Syria, Iran in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia –  U.S. Secretary John Kerry is in Saudi Arabia for talks with Saudi and Gulf Arab officials expected to focus on the crisis in Syria and fears about Iran's nuclear program.

Kerry was meeting in Riyadh Monday with the foreign ministers of Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman as well as the Saudi crown prince and foreign minister. Saudi Arabia and several other Gulf states are believed to be involved in shipping weapons to Syrian rebels, who have yet to receive lethal aid from the West. They share deep U.S. concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions and increasing assertiveness in the region.

Kerry is in Saudi Arabia as part of his nine-nation maiden overseas trip as secretary of state. He travels next to the United Arab Emirates and Qatar before returning to Washington Wednesday.

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