US Gulf forces 'on high alert'

224 people were killed in the bombs

US forces in Bahrain and Qatar have been put on a high alert, according to reports, in response to a security threat connected to the convictions of four men for the 1998 bombing of US embassies in Africa.

The only punishment that fits the crime is the death penalty

US assistant attorney

New agencies quote a US defence official as saying US forces in Saudi Arabia were already on high alert ahead of Tuesday's verdicts.

Earlier on Wednesday, a United States federal jury in New York returned to court to decide whether to execute two of four convicted men.

They will hear testimony from the victims' families as part of the sentencing process, which is expected to last at least a week.

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

The four convicted men are believed to be followers of Osama bin Laden, the Saudi millionaire alleged by Washington to be the mastermind behind the bombings.

According to reports, much of the US Navy's Fifth fleet has put out to sea as a security measure.

The US has about 11,000 troops stationed in the Gulf, based in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain.

Death penalty requested

Prosecutors in New York are seeking the death penalty for Mohamed Rashed Daoud Al-'Owhali, 24, and Khalfan Khamis Mohamed, 27.

Both men were found guilty by a court in New York of murdering 224 people, including 12 Americans in the bombings.

They were convicted alongside Wadih al-Hage, 40, and Mohamed Sadeek Odeh, 36, who now face life imprisonment for their involvement with the attacks.

Prosecutors said that justice had not yet been done in the case and that the only fair punishment was death.

"Each of you will be convinced in the end that the only punishment that fits the crime is the death penalty," Assistant US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said in his opening statement.

Separate hearings

The current process will determine whether Mohamed Rashed Daoud al-'Owhali will face the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.

Osama bin Laden: threatened holy war

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

The Manhattan jury took 12 days to find the men guilty on all 302 counts against them.

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

The US remains convinced the men are supporters of Mr bin Laden, who is believed to be living in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taleban.

The Taleban earlier criticised the convictions as "unfair" and vowed not to hand Mr bin Laden over "under any circumstances".