AMMAN, Feb 15: Jordan handed down its fourth death sentence in absentia against Al Qaeda’s leader in Iraq Abu Musab al Zarqawi on Wednesday, after finding him and eight others guilty of plotting chemical attacks in the country.

Jordan’s state security court said it had evidence that Zarqawi oversaw plans to use suicide bombers to attack U.S. and government targets. The plan was thwarted in April 2004.

“After the court examined the evidence, it has decided unanimously on the verdicts,” said chief military judge Fawaz Baqour.

He was shouted down by the defendants as he read the verdicts in a court room in Jweida prison, on the outskirts of the capital, where the militants were jailed.

“America is your master. Sharon (Israeli Prime Minister) is your master,” the militants chanted from inside the caged dock.

“With our souls and blood we sacrifice ourselves (for you) Abu Musab ... Allahu Akbar. Allah is our Lord. You have no God ... you tyrants,” they chanted.

Five of the nine sentenced to death are in custody. A 10th suspect, also in custody, received a three-year jail term.

The plan included attacking intelligence headquarters and U.S. interests in Jordan with a series of suicide bombings using trucks laden with chemical explosives.

The three-man military court found the nine militants guilty of ‘conspiring to undertake terror attacks’, which carries the death sentence. They were also convicted of other lesser charges, including possession and manufacture of explosives and affiliation with a banned group.

The court gave a death sentence to Zarqawi’s alleged Syrian right hand man, Abu al Ghadia. The fugitive was found guilty of sending money to and recruiting and training members of the group, which operated under the name of Kateab al Tawhid.—Reuters