A Turkish court sentenced seven suspected Al Qaeda militants to life in prison for the deadly 2003 bombings in Istanbul.
The defendants, including Syrian Loa'i Mohammad Haj Bakr al-Saqa, were among 74 suspects standing trial for their alleged involvement in the attacks on November 15th and November 20th, 2003, which killed 58 people.
The bombings targeted two synagogues, the British consulate and the London-based HSBC bank.
The court acquitted 26 of defendants while sentencing the rest to various prison terms between three years nine months and 18 years.
Al-Saqa who was charged with masterminding the bombings called on holy warriors to keep up their fight, declaring during final arguments in court that victory was close.
Along with al-Saqa, the court also sentenced Harun Ilhan, who has taken responsibility for the bombings, Fevzi Yitiz, who helped build the truck bombs, and Yusuf Polat, who gave the final go-ahead for the synagogue attacks, to life in prison.
Other leading defendants Baki Yigit, Osman Eken and Adnan Ersoz also got life sentences.
The court convicted all seven of "attempting to change the constitutional regime with force," causing the deaths and wounding of 647 people, and "planning the bombings and providing resources."
The court sentenced several other defendants to various prison terms while acquitting some others.
Police say some suspected ringleaders fled the country after the attacks, and some reportedly died in Iraq while fighting US forces.
Prosecutors said Osama bin Laden had personally ordered al-Saqa to organise the plot, even though some suspects have testified that Al Qaeda was unhappy that the group abandoned an initial plan to attack a base used by the US air force, and instead went after targets that involved killing Muslims.
AP