Al-Moayad, centre, is greeted by wellwishers upon his arrival at the airport in Sanaa [AFP]

Sheikh Mohammed al-Moayad was sentenced to 75 years in prison by a US court in 2005 over alleged financial support to al-Qaeda and Hamas, after being extradited from Germany where he was arrested two years earlier.

His assistant, Mohammed Zayed, was given a 45-year term.

A US appeals court ordered a retrial last October after overturning the convictions on grounds they were prejudiced by inflammatory testimony about unrelated terrorism cases in the original trial.

Warm welcome

The two men received a welcome from ministers, political leaders and other dignitaries at the VIP lounge of Sana'a International Airport on their arrival on Tuesday.

The 61-year-old scholar was greeted by a roaring ovation from crowds and his motorcade was brought to a virtual standstill several times by screaming crowds.

He also received the welcome of President Ali Abdullah Saleh at the presidential palace following his arrival in the city, the official Saba news agency reported.

The pair were released after their lawyer struck a plea bargain deal with US prosecutors, sources close to the family of al-Moayad told the German Press Agency dpa.

Under the agreement, the men pleaded guilty to providing aid to Hamas, which is listed among terrorist groups by US government, and were sentenced to six years time served.

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