Kyrgyz Court Convicts Plotters Against Coalition Base

23 April 2004 -- A Kyrgyz court today convicted four men of plotting to attack an air base in Kyrgyzstan currently being used by the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan.

The judge sentenced the four to prison terms ranging from 10 to 13 years and ordered the confiscation of all of their property.

Three of the men are citizens of Kyrgyzstan, the other is a citizen of neighboring Kazakhstan.

The judge said all four were indoctrinated in religious extremism during trips in 2003 to Iran and Pakistan. The court also concluded that they received terrorist training in the two countries.

All four have maintained their innocence since they were detained in September.

(AP)