One of Algeria's top Islamic rebels, wanted in Germany for the kidnap of 32 European tourists in the desert in 2003, was sentenced to life in prison in his absence on Saturday 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. (Reuters)
