Qatar coup trial adjourned

The trial in Qatar of seven men accused of espionage and involvement in a coup plot two years ago has been adjourned for nearly three weeks until January the twenty-fourth.

Four of the defendants have been released on bail.

A BBC correspondent in the Gulf says given the seriousness of the charges the decision to release them came as surprise.

Local newspaper reports say the court has thrown out one of the prosecution's key pieces of evidence.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service