Amman - Jordan's State Security Court on Thursday sentenced 12 al-Qaeda-linked Islamists to jail terms ranging between 15 and 20 years with hard labour after finding them guilty of carrying out, or plotting, acts of terrorism against churches and tourists inside the country, judicial sources said.

The tribunal first passed death sentences against four defendants, but they were commuted to 20-year imprisonment, to give them a chance to correct their conduct, given their young age.

One of them, Shaker Khatib, 28, travelled to Lebanon in 2008 where he met with one of al-Qaeda leaders and received military training, the judicial source said.

The other eight suspects were sentenced to 15 years with hard labour. The age of defendants, who were arrested in July 2008, ranged between 19 and 28 years.

According to the indictment sheet, all defendants were accused of "carrying out acts of terrorism by using explosives and inflammable materials" and planning attacks on churches and other interests belonging to Christians in Jordan.

The verdicts can be appealed within 30 days, according to judicial sources. (dpa)