Kuwait bails four suspects in Iran-linked cell

Kuwait's lower court yesterday bailed four suspected members of a 26-member cell accused of plotting attacks on the Gulf state in collaboration with Iran and the Shia group Hezbollah.

A judicial source said that in a new hearing held behind closed doors judge Mohammad al-Duaij ordered the four to pay bail of $1,650 each.

He also barred them from leaving the country.

At a hearing two weeks ago, 23 suspects, all of them Kuwaiti Shias, denied the charges and claimed their confessions were extracted under extreme physical torture.

The remaining three, including the only Iranian, are at large.

Iran has officially denied any links to the suspects.

Prosecutors had also charged the suspects with smuggling explosives into the country and preparing them, as well as possessing firearms and ammunition.