BAKR... facing up to 25 years in prison

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) - A Trinidadian Islamic leader who led a failed coup in 1990 and later called for religious war against rich Muslims was charged yesterday with terrorism.

The charge against Jamaat al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr stems from a November 4 sermon, when he called for war against rich Muslims who refuse to pay zakaat, an Islamic tithe for the poor.

Abu Bakr "did knowingly promote the commission of a terrorist act likely to cause the loss of life or serious bodily harm," said Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls.

Abu Bakr could face up to 25 years in prison, if found guilty.
Following his arrest on November 7, police and soldiers raided the Jamaat compound and flattened Abu Bakr's office with a bulldozer.

Authorities seized a rifle, a hand grenade and 500 rounds of ammunition during the operation.

In 1990, Abu Bakr's group bombed police headquarters, stormed Parliament and took the prime minister and his Cabinet hostage in a rebellion that left 24 people dead.

The rebels surrendered after they were promised amnesty. The government withdrew the amnesty and prosecuted them, but the charges were eventually dismissed on appeal.

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