Yemen frees Cole mastermind

[unhappycamper]

Yemen frees Cole mastermind
By Ahmed Al-Haj - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Oct 26, 2007 9:11:32 EDT

SAN’A, Yemen — Yemen has set free the al-Qaida mastermind of the destroyer Cole bombing in 2000 that killed 17 American sailors, a senior security official said Thursday.

Jamal al-Badawi, who is wanted by the FBI, was convicted of the attack in 2004 and received a death sentence that was commuted to 15 years in prison.

He and 22 others, mostly al-Qaida fighters, escaped from prison in 2004, but al-Badawi was granted his freedom after turning himself in 15 days ago and pledging loyalty to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The official said police were told by the government to “stop all previous orders concerning measures adopted against al-Badawi.”

Witnesses told The Associated Press that al-Badawi was receiving well-wishers at his home in the al-Buraika district in Aden, who were congratulating him for his freedom.

The Interior Ministry said earlier that al-Badawi voluntarily gave himself up to police, but media reports said tribal chiefs mediated his surrender after he renounced terrorism and pledged allegiance to the Yemeni leader.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_colemastermindfree_071026/

[Ian David]

1. Maybe he can get a talkshow on Fox Noise with G. Gordon Libby and Oliver North. n/t

[tanyev]

2. Huh. Didn't even bother making this one look like an escape.