Jamal al-Badawi

Jamal al-Badawi, a 35-year-old Yemeni, and Saudi-born Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri were sentenced to death by firing squad for plotting, preparing and involvement in the bombing, which was blamed on Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and killed 17 American sailors as their destroyer refueled in the southern Yemeni port of Aden.

Al-Nashiri, believed to be the mastermind of the Oct. 12, 2000, bombing, was the only one of the six men convicted by the judge not to be in court as he is being held in U.S. custody at an undisclosed location.

The United States announced al-Nashiri's arrest in 2002. He was detained in the United Arab Emirates and transferred to American custody. U.S. officials believe he is a close associate of Saudi-born bin Laden.

In addition to the Cole attack, al-Nashiri is suspected of helping direct the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

The Japan Times Weekly: Oct. 9, 2004
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