US embassy bombing four convicted

More than 200 people were killed in the two blasts

A US federal jury has convicted four men of conspiring to kill Americans in the bombing of two American embassies in Africa in 1998.

The four men are believed to be followers of Osama bin Laden

Two of the four accused, Mohamed Rashed Daoud al-'Owhali, and Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, could now face the death penalty. The other two, Wadih al-Hage and Mohamed Sadeek Odeh, face life imprisonment.

All four were convicted on all 302 counts against them, but lawyers say they will be lodging appeals.

Two hundred and twenty-four people, 12 of them American, died in the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, which prosecutors say were part of a terrorist plot to kill Americans in order to drive US forces out of the Middle East.

The four Muslim men are accused of being followers of Osama bin Laden, an exiled Saudi dissident who has threatened a holy war against US troops and Americans.

He is suspected of backing other terrorist acts, including the bombing of the US World Trade Centre in 1993.

Death penalty hearings

The Manhattan jury took 12 days to reach its decisions.

All four men have denied the bombing charges but FBI agents testified that two of them admitted their crimes in confessions.

Thousands were injured in the blasts

Defence lawyers argued that the men were tricked into helping with the terrorist plan, but prosecutors insisted the men knew what they were doing.

On Wednesday a trial will begin to determine whether Mohamed Rashed Daoud al-'Owhali will face the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.

Lawyers say that hearing evidence in the case will take at least a week.

After the jury has reached a decision on al-'Owhali, a second hearing will take place to decide Khalfan Khamis Mohamed's fate.

Still at large

Six other defendants are currently in custody and up to 15 others, including Mr bin Laden himself, are still at large.

Osama bin Laden: threatened holy war

Mary Olds, who lost her daughter Shirley in the bombing, spoke of the need to bring Mr bin Laden to justice.

"It is not over," she said.

"If we do not deal with the main person we will be dealing with him for years to come."

Her sentiments were echoed by the director of the FBI's New York office, Barry Mawn.

"Much remains to be done," he said.

Bin Laden connection

The final death toll was 214 dead following the explosion in Nairobi, including 12 US nationals, and almost 5,000 injured, nearly all of them Kenyan. In Dar es Salaam 10 Tanzanians died and 72 were injured.

A previously unknown group calling itself the Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places claimed responsibility for both bombings.

The US remains convinced the group is part of Mr bin Laden's al Qaeda organisation, which it blames for a number of attacks on US citizens and assets over the past decade.

US officials have offered a $5m reward for information leading to the arrest of its members.

Mr bin Laden is believed to be living in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taleban.