A Turkish court handed down life sentences Friday to seven men, all accused of having links to Al Qaeda, in connection with truck bombings that ripped through central Istanbul in November 2003, killing nearly 60 people. Dozens of other defendants received lighter sentences, ranging from three to 18 years, for their role in the attacks days apart that targeted two synagogues, the British Consulate and a London-based bank. Pandemonium erupted in the cramped, low-ceilinged courtroom as the chief judge announced the sentences. Of the 74 men who were put on trial, 26 were acquitted. Some had been caught up in what their lawyers described as an indiscriminate sweep after the bombings. The attacks traumatized Turkey at a time when the notion of Muslims killing other Muslims in terrorist attacks was unfamiliar and shocking. Security for the drawn-out trial was extremely heavy. Riot police massed outside the court, one specially designated for the most serious crimes. Sharpshooters were stationed on rooftops and helicopters buzzed overhead. Defense lawyers for those convicted said they would appeal, citing what they called procedural and other errors by the court. "My client was not allowed to mount a genuine defense," said Mehmet Selcuk, who represented Ilhan. The defense team consisted of more than a dozen lawyers, some appointed by the Turkish bar and many representing multiple clients. Turkey has no death penalty, but the life sentences handed down call for serving at least 30 years without parole. Some of them were designated "heavy" terms, with a stipulation of solitary confinement. Some of the defendants, including Sakka, face other charges. He is accused in a 2005 plot to attack an Israeli cruise ship bound for the Mediterranean resort of Antalya, in southern Turkey, which led to his arrest. Britain`s Foreign Office issued a statement welcoming the convictions and calling the bombings "abhorrent acts." Three Britons were killed in the attacks. A three-judge panel presided over the trial. The Turkish legal system does not provide for jury trials or allow for cross-examination of witnesses. Several of the defense lawyers built their cases around the contention that because the bombings targeted Jewish and British interests, they did not constitute an attack on the Turkish Republic, one of the principal charges. Other defense lawyers insisted that repeated visits by many of the accused to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Chechnya were for innocent reasons. One said his client was too busy finding a suitable apartment in Afghanistan to attend a militant training camp. Representatives of Istanbul`s Jewish community, together with British officials, made a point of attending as many of the court hearings as possible. - LA Times