By Nasser Arrabyee/09/08/2009
The two Yemenis released by United States after dropping their terror convictions, will arrive in the Yemeni capital Sana'a Tuesday August 11th, early morning, official sources said.
Mohammed Al Moayad and Mohammed Zaid left Washington Sunday late afternoon with the Emirates airline and will spend all Monday in Dubai for medical check ups, the state-run news agency (Saba) quoted officials at the Yemeni embassy in Washington as saying.
Sources close to the families of the two men said they were arranging for a big welcome ceremony which will begin at the airport of Sana'a on Tuesday.
The families of the two men are very happy to see their loved ones after about six years of sufferings.
Both families expressed their gratitude and thanks for all efforts exerted by the Yemeni government, American lawyers, and human right groups for returning the two men to their homes.
"We are all extremely happy, we can not believe we'll see them after tomorrow here in the house," said the 18-year old Zakaria, the younger son of Al Moayad.
"The credit for the return of my father and his companion Mohammed Zaid goes to Allah Almighty first, and then to President Ali Abdullah Saleh and all lawyers and human right activists and journalists and every one who made efforts for their release," Zakaria told Yemen Observer.
On July 28, 2005, Al Moayad and Zaid were sentenced by a Brooklyn court to 75 and 45 years in prison and fine about two million dollars for charges of supporting terrorism.
On October 2008, an appeal court overturned the primary court, but the American government challenged and demanded retrials of the two men.
Last Friday August 7th, 2009, an American judge sentenced Al Moayad, 70, and Zaid 35, to their six years time served and ordered their return to Yemen.
The two men were lured by a Yemeni agent to Germany where they were arrested in Frankfurt airport in January 10th, 2003, and handed over to the American authorities on November 16th.
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