EGYPT. THREE EGYPTIANS GET DEATH SENTENCE OVER TABA BOMBS

September 7, 2006: Egypt's state security court sentenced three people to death during a court hearing over involvement in a series of blasts targeting Red Sea holiday resorts.
The three were convicted of seven charges, including illegal possession of weapons, manufacturing explosives and plotting to kill Egyptians and foreigners.
The prosecutors said Younis Gurair, Osama el-Nakhlawi and Mohamed Hussein were members of a local group called Tawhid wal Jihad, blamed for bombings and attacks in Sinai over the past two years.
The three have denied the charges and said they confessed under torture.
Eleven other people are on trial over the bombings in Taba and two other beach resorts popular with Israelis in October 2004. The attacks killed more than 34 people.
The prosecutors said the group had proclaimed the Egyptian leadership religiously illegitimate and targeted foreign tourists.
Human rights groups have said the authorities detained up to 2,500 people for questioning after the bombings, subjecting many to torture. Egyptian officials deny the torture. (Sources: Reuters, 07/09/2006)