An Italian court has sentenced four Tunisian citizens to up to five years in prison following conviction on charges of arms trafficking and criminal association. The court in Milan gave group leader Essid Sami Ben Khemais and one associate the five-year term. The two others were sentence to four years in prison. The case was the first conviction in Europe involving suspects tied to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network. The prosecution contended that the four set up a group that provided logistical support, including trafficking in weapons and explosives and the fabrication of false documents, for al-Qaida operations in Europe.

Police arrested the four now convicted Tunisians between April and October of last year as part of a major terror investigation. Defense lawyers deny ties between their clients and al-Qaida. They portray the defendants as members of a Tunisian opposition group. Lawyers for Mr. Ben Khemais say he identified himself as a practicing Muslim and insists he is not a terrorist.

Last month, a Tunisian court sentenced Mr. Ben Khemais, in absentia, to 20 years in prison for membership in a terrorist group.

U.S. officials say al-Qaida masterminded the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

Friday's court action in Milan came just days after police arrested seven Moroccans in Rome after finding them in possession of a cyanide compound and detailed maps marking the location of the American embassy in the city and charts of the city's water system. The seven are charged with membership in a subversive group.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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