Five Kenyans pleaded not guilty today to charges of murder in connection with last November's suicide-bombing of an Israeli-owned hotel in Mombasa.
Aboud Rogo Mohammed, Kubwa Mohammed Seif, his son Mohammed Kubwa, Said Saggar Ahmed and Salmin Mohammed Khamis pleaded not guilty at a Nairobi court to 15 counts of murder.
The bombing of the Paradise Hotel near the east African country's tourist resort of Mombasa killed at least 16 people, including the suicide bombers. The United States has linked the attack to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
It occurred within minutes of a failed attempt to shoot down an Israeli airliner leaving Mombasa airport.
Court papers did not elaborate on the role the defendants - all Kenyan nationals - are accused of playing in the bombing.