This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7506957.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Germany jails Iraqi PM plotters Germany jails Iraqi PM plotters
(41 minutes later)
A German court has convicted three Iraqi men of plotting to kill former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi during a visit to Germany in 2004.A German court has convicted three Iraqi men of plotting to kill former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi during a visit to Germany in 2004.
The regional court in Stuttgart also convicted them of belonging to terrorist group Ansar al-Islam. The court in Stuttgart also convicted them of belonging to Ansar al-Islam - a group reportedly linked to al-Qaeda.
Ata Abdoulaziz Rashid was jailed for 10 years; Rafik Mohamad Yousef and Mazen Ali Hussein were sentenced to eight and seven-and-a-half years respectively.Ata Abdoulaziz Rashid was jailed for 10 years; Rafik Mohamad Yousef and Mazen Ali Hussein were sentenced to eight and seven-and-a-half years respectively.
The three men, who are all ethnic Kurds, denied the charges.The three men, who are all ethnic Kurds, denied the charges.
They were arrested in Berlin, Augsburg and Stuttgart in December 2004. 'Hypothetical' attack
During the trial, prosecutors had argued that the three planned to attack Mr Allawi in central Berlin. The men, aged between 27 and 34, were arrested in Berlin, Augsburg and Stuttgart in December 2004.
Mr Allawi had been on a visit to Germany to discuss investment and military training in Iraq. During the trial, prosecutors had argued that the three planned to attack Mr Allawi during a business meeting in central Berlin.
Lawyers for the three co-defendants had said they had no access to weapons or explosives and talked about an attack only hypothetically.
Mr Allawi visited Germany in 2004 to discuss investment and military training in Iraq.
Prior to his brief visit, Ansar al-Islam - a predominantly Kurdish group operating in northern Iraq - had urged its followers to assassinate Mr Allawi.
Mr Allawi's government took office in June 2004 when the US-led coalition handed over sovereignty 14 months after invading Iraq.Mr Allawi's government took office in June 2004 when the US-led coalition handed over sovereignty 14 months after invading Iraq.
He stepped down after elections in January 2005.He stepped down after elections in January 2005.