[12/مارس/2010]
SANA’A, March 12 (Saba)- A senior Yemeni official has said that Al-Qaeda is using the Yemeni-Saudi border to move between the two countries, adding he does not rule out that they may be cooperating with Al-Houthi rebels.

In an interview with the London-based pan-Arab daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, Brigadier General Ali Hassan al-Shatir, head of the Morale Guidance Directorate in the Yemeni Army pointed out that after the rebels gave into the government's conditions several weeks ago, the north-eastern region became under control and the state imposed its authority on the Saudi border. He added that the security agencies are carrying out the possible investigations to check the files of those entering the Yemeni territories. He did not rule out the presence of terrorist elements from an earlier time and pointed out, nevertheless, that Yemen had deported a large number of foreigners residing in the country illegally.

Al-Shatir strongly criticized southern Yemeni leader Tariq al-Fadli, who placed an American flag on top of his house and the latter's declaration of his wish for the British occupation to return to the south and his calls for citizens to fly American and British flags over their homes. Brigadier Al-Shatir said this is regarded as against law and order and a violation of national principles and part of terrorist activity.

Al-Shatir accused Western media, particularly the American media of exaggerating the size of the Al-Qaeda Organization in Yemen. He said this exaggeration has a political aim and that is to prepare world public opinion that Yemen will be the third front after Afghanistan and Iraq in its war against Al-Qaeda. He pointed out that such a plan will fail because Yemen is not Afghanistan and Sana’a is not Kabul. On the other hand, he added that his country continues its war on terror with international partners.

Al-Shatir added that the Al-Qaeda Organization in the south-east of the country is being pursued by security agencies and added that all its [Al-Qaeda] moves are being monitored. He added that every now and then pre-emptive attacks are carried out against it. Regarding the warnings made by Yemeni tribal leaders against American intervention in Yemen and rejecting any cooperation between Yemen and America, Al-Shatir explained that [reports of] foreign intervention in the country are not true and he who promotes this is delusional. Brigadier Al-Shatir pointed out that cooperation is a common denominator between the state and the people. He said such cooperation cannot be banned for Yemen which cooperates with America, China, Russia, Europe and other countries from around the world within the framework of exchange of interests.

Al-Shatir added that the so-called Mobility [Movement] in some southern governorate directorates constitute elements that have been harmed by the unification and have lost their interests and influence and therefore they resorted to creating problems, deceiving youths, and urging them to create chaos, rob highways, and carry out actions that are against law and order. However, all this will be dealt with rigorously and decisively following the decision made by the National Defence Council. Everyone who violates law and order or undermines security and stability will be pursued.

The Yemeni official spoke about the problem of the refugees flocking to the southern shores of Yemen and the measures taken by the naval forces and the coast guard in this regard. He said that Yemen receives tens and sometimes hundreds of refugees from the African Horn, and especially from Somalia. He said that the number of Somalis in Yemen has reached around 1 million. He added that the security agencies are monitoring the movements of any terrorists, whether Somali or non-Somali.

As for the security situation in the north-west of the country two weeks after the cease-fire between the state and Al-Houthi rebels, Al-Shatir said that the area is fully under control and that the state has imposed its authority on the Saudi border. He explained that the Al-Houthis have succumbed to the six conditions announced by the government to end the war after trying to evade it for six months. He said that the reason why they finally gave in is because of the painful attacks by the Yemeni Army and the security and popular forces against them, and pointed out that the rebels have suffered great losses.

Brigadier Al-Shatir who is the editor-in-chief of the 26 September newspaper that is affiliated to the Yemeni Army said his country believes that the sixth round of war with the rebels is the last of the wars and that he who violates the Constitution, and law and order, whoever it is, will be decisively stopped because the state is determined to impose its control over all regions in Yemen, north and south. 

YA


Saba