Kenya jails Iranians over terror charges

The Iranian government denied that it was part of any plot to target Kenya.

However, Iran would not sever ties with Kenya over the issue, Mr Givzad said.

"Iran has cordial business relations with Kenya. This was a judicial process, which we respect," he is quoted as saying.

Kenya has been hit in recent years by a spate of bombings and abductions, blamed on Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group.

It sent troops into Somalia in October 2011 to help the UN-backed government seize territory from the militants.

In 2002, al-Qaeda-linked militants bombed an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa, killing 18 people.

A missile was also fired, but it failed to hit its target - an Israeli charter plane flying out of Mombasa, a popular tourist resort.
BBC