3 Convicted in Terror Plot in Australia

Three men who believed Islam was under threat from Western nations were convicted in an Australian court Thursday of plotting a suicide attack against a Sydney army base.

The men - Australian citizens of Somali or Lebanese origin - were convicted in Victoria state Supreme Court of conspiring to plot a terrorist attack, and could face life in prison. Two other men were found not guilty of the same charge.

The five men were arrested in pre-dawn raids in the southern city of Melbourne in 2009.

Police said the group planned to send a team of men with automatic rifles on a suicide attack against Holsworthy Barracks, an army base on the outskirts of Sydney. Officials said the men were motivated by a belief that Islam was under attack from the West, and planned to keep on shooting until they were killed.

During the trial, prosecutors said the men were upset about Australia's involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Australia became a staunch U.S. ally in the war on terrorism after Sept. 11.

Prosecutors said one of the men visited Somalia in the hopes of gaining approval for the attack from an Islamic cleric. The men were accused of having ties to al-Shabab, Somalia's powerful al-Qaida-linked militia group.

Had the plot been successful, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus said it would have been the most serious attack ever carried out in Australia.

Terrorism is extremely rare in Australia, though dozens of Australians have died in terrorist attacks overseas, mostly in Indonesia, including the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings.

The trial began in September and the jury deliberated for more than five days before returning guilty verdicts against Wissam Mahmoud Fattal, 34, Saney Edow Aweys, 27, and Nayef El Sayed, 26.

Abdirahman Mohamud Ahmed, 26, and Yacqub Khayre, 23, were found not guilty.

As jurors left the court following the verdict, Fattal said: "Islam is truth religion. Thank you very much."

Fattal, Aweys and El Sayed embraced their acquitted co-defendants before they were led away.

Outside court, Ahmed told reporters he was relieved.

"I think justice has been served," he said.

When asked about the convictions of his co-defendants, he said: "It's unfortunate, but this is God's will."

Justice Betty King ordered Fattal, Aweys and El Sayed into custody. They will appear in court again on Jan. 24.

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Appleby named PGA Comeback Player of the Year

Australian Stuart Appleby was named the US PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year on Monday after bouncing back from the worst season of his career to make golf history.

Appleby, who turns 40 in May, fired a final-round 59 to win the Greenbrier Classic on August 1, becoming the first player from outside the United States and only the fifth ever to fire the lowest score recorded in any PGA round.

Appleby had not broken 65 in a tour event since 2006, a span of some 358 rounds, and his prior career-low round was a 62 at Las Vegas in 2003.

AFP/Getty Images/File – Australian Stuart Appleby,
pictured in September 2010, was named the
US PGA Tour Comeback Player of the

The magical moment followed a season of frustration in 2009, one that saw Appleby finish 137th on the US PGA money list, forcing him to use a one-time exemption for being among the top 25 in career money to return in 2010.

The move led to the magical round at White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, to win the Greenbrier and a 38th-place showing on the 2010 tour in a year he capped with a victory in the Australian Masters.

"Stuart showed great perseverance in returning to the winner's circle at the Greenbrier Classic in a historic manner," US PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.

Players voted the honor to Appleby ahead of American Rocco Mediate and India's Arjun Atwal.

Atwal became the first player from India to win a PGA event when he won the Wyndham Championship only three weeks after Appleby won the Greenbrier title. It was the first US PGA title by a Monday qualifier in 24 years.

Atwal had lost his tour card the month before because he was unable to win enough money to retain his medical exemption from an injury-filled 2009 beyond eight events. The victory gave him a two-year tour exemption.

Oprah's visit Down Under brings joy to fans, Australian tourism

For the 300 fans who are accompanying talk show host Oprah Winfrey on what is being billed as the Ultimate Australian Adventure, the trip is a unique opportunity to take in the sights and wonders of the country with the TV icon.

But for Australia -- a country that heavily relies on tourism -- the investment is expected to pay off manifold in publicity, the government said Monday.

The eight-day trip began last week and ends with two taped shows at the Sydney Opera House, which has been renamed Oprah House.

Footing the bill for Oprah and her guests will collectively cost the government AUS $5 million, said Andrew McEvoy, managing director of Tourism Australia.

But the value equivalent in exposure has already made it a smart investment, he said.

"Just before Oprah turned up into our country, the number was $38 million," McEvoy said Monday. "So that was three or four days ago. I can imagine that to double in the time that she's been here. And I can imagine that to treble."

He said the number could further skyrocket next year if Oprah commits to making "at least four hours of Oprah Winfrey television, which will go to 145 countries around the world."

Oprah and her group have visited the Great Barrier Reef, gone on a wine-tasting excursion to Hunter Valley, taken in a scenic flight over the Australian outback, partied in the Royal Botanic Gardens and trekked up the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which adorned with a big 'O' in her honor.

"I can't believe the energy of Oprah herself, her crew -- they're phenomenal," McEvoy said, adding "everyone is full of adrenaline."

During the media mogul's career, many have cashed in on the "Oprah effect," which has launched sales of what she promotes.

Oprah is in the midst of her farewell season of her show. Earlier this year, she showed her gratitude to her audience by announcing the all-expenses paid excursion.