JEDDAH - Saudi Arabia is trying seven Saudis accused of creating an al-Qaida-linked "terror cell" and setting up a training camp on the mountains near the country's southern border with Yemen, al-Watan daily newspaper said on Sunday.
The trial is taking place in a special criminal court in Riyadh and is open only to selected local media.After al-Qaida militants launched attacks on Saudi Arabia in 2003, the authorities arrested thousands on suspicion of links to militant groups. Critics say the 12,000-30,000 people that rights groups say were imprisoned included political activists.
"The court held its fifth hearing yesterday for the case against seven Saudi suspects... accused of setting up a terror cell with the aim of spoiling the land and implementing plans and goals of al-Qaida," al-Watan said.
