Saudi: Qaida Suspects on Trial for Planned Anti-U.S. Attacks

The trial of members of a suspected al-Qaida cell charged with planning attacks against two U.S. military bases in Qatar opened in Riyadh on Saturday.

The cell, dismantled five years ago, comprised 41 members -- including 38 Saudis, a Qatari, an Afghan and a Yemeni -- and was "the most important al-Qaida" operation in Saudi Arabia, the attorney-general said.

It had "planned attacks in Qatari territory against the al-Udeid and as-Sailiyah U.S. bases," he added.

The As-Sailiyah air base and the al-Udeid camp served as launching pads for the U.S. military for an attack on Afghanistan in 2001 and on Iraq in 2003.

"The cell also had projects aimed at Kuwait," the attorney general said, reading the indictment. He said there was "coordination" between the group and al-Qaida cells in Iraq and Syria to "ensure logistical support for their operations."

Nine of the 41 accused were present at the court Saturday and the judge gave them time to review the charges. The other defendants would appear later, he said.

In late June, 86 al-Qaida suspects went on trial in a special Saudi security court on Sunday in connection with deadly attacks carried out in the kingdom.

The defendants face charges of belonging to al-Qaida, of taking part in attacks on public buildings and residential compounds, and of smuggling and possession of weapons.

Thirteen of the groups are accused of participating in the May 2003 car bombings of three residential compounds that left 129 people dead or wounded, including women and children, SPA said.

In April, a judicial source said a total of 5,080 terrorist suspects either faced trial or had already been tried before the special court which has come in for criticism from lawyers.