Americans jailed for terror plot

Five young American Muslims have been convicted of plotting terrorist attacks and sentenced to 10 years in jail in a case that highlights concerns about Westerners travelling to Pakistan to link up with al-Qa'ida and other extremist groups.

Prosecutors said email records, documents and witness statements proved the men from the Washington, DC, area used the internet to plot terror attacks in Pakistan and allied nations and meet militant organisations. They sought life imprisonment for the defendants.

Defence lawyers at the trial within a prison in Sargodha said the evidence was faked. They vowed to appeal.