Jordanian politicians plead not guilty in trial

Three politicians who attended the wake of the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq pleaded not guilty to instigating sectarian strife when their trial began in Jordan today.

Mohammed Abu Fares, Jaafar al-Hourani and Ali Abu Sukkar provoked widespread indignation in Jordan when in June they paid their condolences at the family home of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.