Washington, Dec 16 (IANS) A former member of Guyana's parliament was sentenced to life in prison by a US court for his role in a failed plot to blow up fuel tanks at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, CNN reported.

Abdul Kadir is one of four people who faced charges in the 2007 plot to explode fuel tanks and the fuel pipeline under the airport, according to a statement from the US Eastern District Court of New York.

"The sentence imposed on Abdul Kadir Wednesday sends a powerful and clear message," US Attorney Loretta Lynch said. "We will bring to justice those who plot to attack the United States."

A federal jury convicted Kadir and co-conspirator Russell Defreitas, a former JFK cargo worker, in July after a nine-week trial, the statement said.

Kadir was found guilty on five counts including conspiring to attack a public transportation system and to destroy a building or other real property by fire or explosive.

His attorney, Kafahni Nkrumah, was not immediately available for comment.

A third defendant, Abdul Nur, pleaded guilty in June to providing material support to terrorists. The fourth accused, Kareem Ibrahim, faces the same charges as Defreitas and Kadir, the statement said.