Syrians on Trial in Jordan over Bid to Smuggle Detonators

Three Syrians went on trial in Jordan on Tuesday for allegedly trying to smuggle 36 remote control detonators into their country to help anti-government rebels, a court official said.

"The three suspects pleaded not guilty at the start of their state security court trial," he told Agence France Presse, adding that the case was adjourned until November 13.

"They are accused of carrying out acts which the government disapproves that would harm Jordan's relations with another country, exposing the kingdom to the danger of reprisal acts and entering Jordan illegally," he said.

They face up to five years in jail each if convicted.

The official said the men crossed the border illegally into Jordan in July.

Two of them settled in the northern city of Irbid while the third sought shelter in the Zaatari refugee camp near Syria's border, which is home to around 120,000 Syrian refugees.

"They started to communicate with some members of the Free Syrian Army in order to smuggle 36 detonators," the official said.

The suspects were arrested in "an ambush" on September 1.

Jordan, which is hosting more than 500,000 Syrian refugees, has tightened its border and jailed dozens of men convicted of trying to enter the war-torn neighboring country to fight alongside rebel forces.