Verdict in Embassy Bomb Trial
N E W Y O R K, May 29 -- Jurors have reached a verdict in the trial offour men accused of plotting to bomb U.S. embassies in Africa.
The verdict is to be announced early in this afternoon. Jurors,who were not sequestered, wrapped up work on their 12th day ofdeliberations.
Prosecutors say the attacks on embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, andDar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Aug. 7, 1998, were ordered by Osama binLaden, the fugitive Saudi millionaire and reputed leader of theal-Qaeda terrorist group. Among the 224 people killed were 12Americans.
If convicted, Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, 27, and another manaccused of carrying out the bombings, Mohamed Rashed DaoudAl-'Owhali, 24, could face death in the trial's penalty phase.
Wadih El-Hage, 40, as personal secretary for bin Laden,allegedly established a terrorist cell in Nairobi as part of acampaign by al-Qaeda to kill Americans. El-Hage and the alleged"technical adviser" to the bombings, Mohamed Sadeek Odeh, 36,each could face life in prison if convicted.
The defense has said that a confession by Al-'Owhali wascoerced; Mohamed didn't know what the explosives were intended for;El-Hage never joined any terrorism conspiracy; and Odeh knewnothing of the alleged plots.
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