[JURIST] The Supreme Court of Spain [official website] on Thursday overturned the Sept. 11 conspiracy conviction [JURIST report] of Syrian-born Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas [BBC profile], but upheld his conviction as the leader of an al Qaeda cell in Spain. Yarkas has repeatedly denied [JURIST report] alleged connections with Sept. 11 orchestrator Mohamed Atta, the basis of his overturned conspiracy conviction [BBC report]. Yarkas will remain in jail to serve his 12-year sentence for leading the Spanish al Qaeda cell.

Last month, the Supreme Court overturned [JURIST report] the al Qaeda convictions of three of Yarkas' co-defendants, though Spanish prosecutors believe the convictions of 14 other men convicted along with Yarkas and the other three exonerated defendants should stand. CNN has more. El Mundo has local coverage.