A YEMENI COURT WEDNESDAY SENTENCED SIX MEN TO BETWWEN FIVE AND 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KIDNAPPING A GROUP OF ITALIAN TOURISTS EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE YEMENI NEWS AGENCY SABA REPORTED THE COURT'S CHIEF JUDGE NAJEEB AL-QADIRI SENTENCED FOUR OF THE GROUP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FROM THE DATE OF ARREST. THE OTHER TWO WERE SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS AND FIVE YEARS RESPECTIVELY, DPA QUOTED SABA AS REPORTING. ALL WERE GRANTED THE RIGHT TO APPEAL WITHIN THE LEGAL PERIOD, IT SAID. THE COURT HELD THE FIRST SESSION WHERE IT DISCUSSED THE CASE IN JANUARY 18TH, AFTER THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE ACCUSED THE SIX OF FORMING AN ARMED GANG AND KIDNAPPING TOURISTS. THE ITALIANS, THREE WOMEN AND TWO MEN, WERE FREED AFTER A FIVE-DAY ORDEAL IN MA'RIB REGION FOLLOWING A STANDOFF BETWEEN SECURITY FORCES AND THE KIDNAPPERS. --SP 21 05 LOCAL TIME 18 05 GMT
