Almotamar.net, Saba -
The state security court of appeals in Sana'a upheld on Sunday death sentences against four terrorists of an al-Qaeda 16-mamber cell after convicting them of forming an armed gang targeted vital bodies and foreign tourists in Yemen.

The court also reduced the sentences of five terrorists from 15 years to 08 years in jail and death sentences of two terrorists to 12 year in prison.

The terrorist cell includes 11 Yemeni, four Syrians and a Saudi. They were accused of in forming an armed gang targeted vital installations and foreign tourists in 2007 and 2008.

In July 2009, a Yemeni court sentenced six defendants to death and another 10 to 8-15 jail terms including four Syrians and a Saudi.

The 16 al-Qaeda members were comprised a cell belonging to al-Qaeda known Tarim terrorist cell.

The court had began first trial with the suspects in March 2009 for their involvement in several attacks targeting local and foreign nationals and interests as well as oil facilities in Hadramout, Aden and the capital Sana'a.

The group was implicated in several terrorist operations in Yemen of such carrying out failed attacks on the US embassy and residential complex housing foreigners.

The group was also charged with carrying out an attack on Belgian tourists in Dawan district of Hadramout province in January 18, 2008, in which two Belgian tourists and a Yemeni were killed in addition to wounding two Yemenis and one Belgian.

The group also claimed for suicide attack on military camp in Sayoun in July 25, 2008, in which one soldier and the bomber were killed and 17 others including 7 women were wounded and also the attacks on several security checkpoints in Hadramout.

The group was also charged with carrying out a mortar attack in 2008 that targeted the US embassy in Sana'a but missed and instead hit an adjacent school, injuring three police officers and four girls.

The group was also behind the attacks on the oil refinery in the city of Aden and on the Chinese oil company in al-Khasa'a district and on the custom authority in Sana'a in April 30, 2008.