Yemen: Al Qaeda suspects found innocent

An appeals court on Saturday endorsed a lower court's ruling to acquit 19 suspected al-Qaeda members accused of plotting to assassinate Westerners and attack a hotel frequented by Americans.

The earlier trial ended in July, the AP reported.

On Saturday, the Sana'a appeals court cited lack of evidence in the case in its acquittal. But the presiding judge sentenced six of the defendants to prison terms of up to three years for forging official documents.

During the four-month trial, the suspects maintained their innocence, several saying they were arrested simply because they had fought in Iraq.