Jakarta – Four East Timorese rebels convicted in a grenade attack that killed 17 Indonesian security agents were sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison.

The separatist rebels were among five others convicted in the ambush on the security agents in the disputed territory of East Timor. Earlier this month, two rebels were sentenced to death, and three others were sent to prison for between 12 and 13 years.

The men were convicted of throwing grenades into a police truck on a highway on May 30, one day after parliamentary elections. Sixteen policemen and one soldier were killed.

Violence during the election period killed 42 soldiers, police, civilians and rebels in East Timor, a former Portuguese colony that was invaded by Indonesia in 1975. The United Nations does not recognize Indonesian sovereignty.

In a telephone interview, Judge Idris Sinambela said seven of the rebels sentenced to prison attended a meeting to plan attacks during the elections in territory.

All the defendants convicted in the ambush will appeal the verdict.