Okaz/Saudi Gazette and SPA RIYADH — The prosecutor general Saturday demanded death penalty for two Al-Qaeda leaders — a Saudi and a Qatari — for planning attacks against two US military bases in Qatar and Kuwait. The prosecutor general's demand came as the trial of 41 Al-Qaeda suspects began in a special security court here, Saturday. The Al-Qaeda cell, dismantled five years ago, comprised 41 members — including 38 Saudis, a Qatari, an Afghan and a Yemeni — and was “the most important Al-Qaeda” operation in Saudi Arabia, the prosecutor general said. It had “planned attacks in Qatari territory against the Al-Udeid and As-Sailiyah US bases,” he added. The As-Sailiyah air base and the Al-Udeid camp served as launching pads for the US military for an attack on Afghanistan in 2001 and on Iraq in 2003. “The cell also had projects aimed at Kuwait,” the prosecutor general said, reading the indictment. He said there was “coordination” between the group and Al-Qaeda cells in Iraq and Syria to “ensure logistical support for their operations.” Nine of the 41 accused were present at the court Saturday and the judge gave them time to review the charges. The other defendants would appear later, he said. The cell was dismantled during 2005-06. The qualifications of the nine accused in their first hearing in the court Saturday ranged between the three stages of general education and university, except for the leader of the cell, the Qatari national, who holds a diploma. Among them is a security guard. After reading the charge sheet and their confessions, the prosecutor general demanded they get the penalties that each one of them deserves – beheading for the leaders of the cells – a Saudi and a Qatari. He also demanded discretionary penalties for the remaining militants besides a travel ban on Saudi suspects. __
