[Al Arabiya Latest] Yemen put four Shiite rebel supporters on trial on Monday on charges of spying for Iran in a move that could strain a truce to end a northern war that drew in neighboring oil giant Saudi Arabia last year.Muamar al-Abdali, 35, Walid Sharafeddin, 33, Abdullah al-Duleimi, 43, and Sadeq al-Sharafi, 26, were charged with "providing the Iranian side with photographs of security installations, military camps, ports, islands and maritime installations harming" Yemen, according to the charge sheet.
Sanaa has repeatedly accused elements in Iran of backing the rebels, a charge Tehran has strongly denied.
The prosecution demanded the maximum penalty for the defendants, which is execution by firing squad.
"During the period between 1994 and Aug. 25, 2009, they undertook to spy for a foreign state and hold illegal communications with those working for Iran's interests," the indictment said. The men were arrested in July and August.
"They received support and funding to carry out intellectual and political projects serving Iranian interests, and submitted to them reports on the political, economic and social situation in the country."