2009-04-07 

French court sentences 3 Germans for NATO protests

STRASBOURG, France (AP) - A judicial official says a court in Strasbourg has sentenced three Germans detained during last week's violent protests at a NATO summit to short prison terms.
The official says the three, aged 23-25, were handed prison terms Monday ranging from three months to six months. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with judicial policy.
The three were convicted of throwing stones at police officers and carrying weapons including a metal bar and a hatchet. Only one of the three denied the charges.

A hotel and a customs station were burned in the historic eastern city of Alsace near the German border protests during the NATO summit. The French government has said 300 people were arrested during the protests.