FM: NO AGREEMENT ALLOWS US JETS WAGE RAIDS ON AL QAEDA IN YEMEN

From Kuwaiti based Al Syasiah newspaper

Translated and re-edited by: Mahmoud Assamiee

SANA'A, Jan. 11 (Saba)- Foreign Minister Abu- Bakr al-Qirbi has
denied reports about agreement between Sana'a and Washington on
security coordination allowing the latest to wage missile attacks
and air raids against Al-Qaeda nest in Yemen.

Al-Qirbi said in an interview with Kuwait based Al Syasiah
newspaper that Yemen is enforcing anti- terror forces to be able to
deter any attack targets its interests or Arab and foreign interests
by Al-Qeda, affirming " Yemen needs international support to improve
its capabilities in field of training, communication and air and sea
transport."

He reveals that existence of Al-Qaeda affiliated Omer al-Farooq
Abdul-Muttaleb, Nigerian national, suggests Al-Qaeda in Yemen is a
part of the international big system and affirms necessity to
enhancing and coordinating efforts between the region and the world
to face terrorist dangers.

He made it clear that the recent attacks against Al-Qaeda has come
after intelligence efforts traced movements of Al-Qaeda elements
since long time. They were scheduled earlier but delayed as the
government wanted accurate information on the terrorists, especially
the most dangerous ones. This approves the government's seriousness
to face them after the dialogue with them and the rehabilitation
programs have failed.

He noted that intelligence efforts provided more information to
security forces and unearthed dangerous plots by Al-Qaeda targeting
Yemeni and foreign interests and economic facilities, as well as
assassinating security and military officials.

Over Yemen's limited capabilities, the foreign minister said the
country is planning to increase its anti- terror units and these
unites need support in field of training and equipments and this
kind of support is what Yemen wants. Existing Al-Qaeda in this form
needs joint efforts to face it and that Yemen has been calling for
years for security and intelligence cooperation with Arab and
foreign countries for facing this danger threatening all countries.

Over active or inactive cooperation between Yemen and Arab
countries, Minister al-Qribi said "I believe Arab countries need to
rethink on the existing cooperation and on the efforts exerted to
fight terrorism, especially in field of rehabilitation programs to
make these terrorists good citizens.

Regarding that the air raids which said killed and injured
civilians, he said the targeted area was not in a village as some
media outlets reported but training camps to Al-Qaeda and the
problem is that some Al-Qaeda's elements brought their families with
them to the camp which led to killing and injuring a number of them.
We in the government consider them victims of terrorist elements who
forced them to be with them and put them in danger given that they
already knew they are pursued.

On government measures to amend these people, he affirmed the
government had formed fact finding committee to investigate the
issue. The committee is now conducting its duty and will introduce
its report soon. On the basis of the report's results, those who
have been affected in the attacks will be compensated.

On explanation of the sudden raise of new Al-Qaeda's cells after the
air strike in Abyan governorate, the minister said we have to
indicate first that media outlets published a gathering to tribes in
the governorate in different way. The televised scenes show that all
those in the gathering are from Al-Qaeda while the reality was that
these people came to condole Al-Bakazem tribe and Al-Qaeda elements
indulged in them. Mohammad Omeir, an Al Qaeda leader, has been
shown with a number of his followers threatening to revenge.

Regarding security forces' attack against Al-Qaeda's nest in Bajel
district, Hodeida governorate, he said carrying out this attack
against Al-Qaeda elements in remote area in the governorate in this
level sends a message to Al-Qaeda's cells that Yemen will not be a
safe haven to terrorist fugitives as it will not be a nest to
terrorist elements.

I believe this attack has presented strong proof on the security
forces' readiness to hit with iron fit everyone thinks to harm
Yemen's security. They have to understand that security forces will
hit them in every place and at any time. This attack also is another
message to those who try to hide terrorists to be dealt as one of
them.

In respect to Al-Qaeda's threatening to carry out revenge
operations, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said
Al-Qaeda will try to affirm its existence in Yemen but security
forces understand this danger and are cautious via coordination with
their partners in fighting terrorism to chare information to foil
any terrorist plot.

Over reports that many of Al-Qaeda elements, among them leaders,
have escaped the recent attacks and that may pose continuous threat,
he said no doubt that they pose continuous threat but the
government will continue tracking them and at the same the door
remains open to any one wants to return to the right direction and
stand against terrorism.