WASHINGTON - The US State Department said on Friday it was 'concerned' about the case of two Libyan-American businessmen charged by the United Arab Emirates with supporting Libyan militants amid allegations they were tortured into signing a confession. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the case of Kamal Eldarat and his son, Mohamed Eldarat, had been raised with UAE officials by the US ambassador. A verdict in the case was expected on Monday. Toner said U.S. officials would be present. The Eldarats were initially charged with terrorism-related offenses, but the prosecutor in March changed the charges to providing support to Libyan militants and collecting donations without state permission. They face up to 15 years in prison.
(photo credit: The Jerusalem Post)