MOSCOW, July 5 (Xinhuanet)-- Azerbaijani police have busted an al-Qaida-connected criminal group, which was plotting a series of bombings in Azerbaijan and neighboring countries, the Azerbaijani Ministry of National Security said Tuesday in a statement.

    The group shipped electronic components bought from abroad to the Azerbaijani capital of Baku and assembled them into dozens of remote-controlled bombs, Interfax News Agency quoted the statementas saying.

    The group, led by Afghans, also consisted of British, Jordanian and Russian members.

    Besides bombs, the police also seized guns, forged passports and other military equipment in the operation conducted earlier this year.

    Members of the group have been sentenced to three to 15 years in prison by an Azerbaijani court, said the statement. Enditem