One of Algeria's leading Islamic rebels, wanted in Germany for the kidnap of 32 European tourists in the desert in 2003, was today sentenced to life in prison for helping to create a terrorist group.
Amari Saifi, deputy head of the al Qaeda-aligned Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), was convicted in a court in the capital Algiers of creating an armed terrorist group and spreading terror among Algeria's population.
In the same trial, three Algerians were acquitted and two received three years in prison, the judge said.
Saifi, a former paratrooper, was not present during his trial. He is in custody and under interrogation for other terrorism-related charges.