Yemeni court upholds death sentences

A Yemeni appeals court yesterday upheld death sentences against four al-Qai'da militants for lethal attacks that included the assault on the US embassy and the killing of two Belgian tourists in 2008, a court official said.

The four were convicted last year as part of an al-Qai'da cell behind the March 2008 attack on the embassy, which killed a school guard in an adjacent building.

The appeals court overturned death sentences in the cases of two other militants. As the court pronounced its rulings, the militants chanted "Allahu Akbar", or "God is great", and pledged allegiance to Osama bin Laden.