[20/October/2009]

Edited by: Mahmoud Assamiee

SANA'A, Oct.20 (Saba)- President Ali Abdullah Saleh has affirmed the state and government's determination that the current war fought by military and security forces against rebels in Sa'ada and Harf Sufian will be the last war.

In interview with MBC Television Channel conducted with him last Sunday, he revealed big victories the military and security forces achieve in different fronts so that these elements (Houthis rebels) are in the worse condition because of consumption of their equipments, arms, ammunitions, fuels and supplies.

But he referred the delay of decisive military victory against these terrorist elements to keenness of the state of avoiding human and material losses and for hope that these elements will return to the right way but they are lairs and malicious.

"Whenever we stop military operations and release their prisoners, they prepare themselves again for fighting," said the president.

In regard to secessionist movement in some southern governorates, the president said it does not represent danger on the size of Al-Qaeda network which threatens national economy and threatens security and stability or of the size of rebellion in some Sa'ada's districts.

He made it clear that sons of southern governorates are not with separatists and they are occupying high ranking posts in the government, the parliament, local authority and civil society organizations. Furthermore, he said neither brotherly nor friendly countries support southern movement. These countries support Yemen's unity, its security and stability because Yemen's security and stability concern the international community.

Over circulations on Iranian aid to Houthi rebels, he said that they receive support from some references in Iran according to documents "we got" and information from some cells they are currently before courts. Sorrowfully they are Yemenis receiving funds from some institutions and some religious leaders maybe in Iran but we do not accuse the authority.

He affirmed that rebels are but terrorists and outlaw elements working for outsiders and implement exterior agenda.

Over question that if the war in Sa'ada was regional, the president said" I can not say this but if any one has other aims, Yemen will not be a stage for operations. It is sovereign independent country and we will not accept to fight for others."

He further said, our fight is for defending a creed, principles, constitution and values. We do not have any thing to do with differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran besides, we do not have differences with Iran.

He affirmed that the kingdom supports Yemen and its unity and security but does not interfere in Yemen's affairs.

Over linking between Al-Qa'eda and Houthis, he said "through our following up and reports coming to us, every one is supporting another. Houthis support Al-Qa'ada and Al-Qaeda supports Houthis." But affirms that the two parts are not committed to one agenda rather they share spite against political system and security and stability in Yemen.


Over regional aims of the rebels, Saleh says Houthis are not real Shi'ah or Zaidis but fund seekers want to harm Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They want to create line extending from Najran to Jaizn in the kingdom and from Sa'ada to Haradh and Medi in Yemen to hit the two countries. He added that they plan to reach to the Red Sea via Medi port. They will affect the maritime in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea.

Over plot of Al-Qa'ida in the Peninsula that targeted the Saudi prince Mohammad bin Nayef, President Saleh said the Kingdom has published complete details about perpetrators. They are a group of Yemenis and Saudis were hiding in Mareb governorate. They were in communication with Saudi authorities for attracting them but they were spiteful and prepared subtle operation when targeted the prince but Almighty God thwarted their plot.

He added "we are cracking down on them from place to another". Four have been arrested, all of them are Yemenis. They are being interrogated and investigations reveal that they have main goals in the country, economic and political targets.

He said there are some of al-Qa'ida affiliates fighting with Houthis and that Hotuhis are involved in kidnapping German, British and Korean people who were providing health services in the country.

He even says there is coordination between Houthis, Al-Qa'ida and southern movement and they support each other for targeting the political system. They do not have one agenda but have one target.

Over circulations that the system supports each religious party against another, the president said these are incorrect rumors, "we did not use Houthis against Islah and use Islah against Houthis nor we use Salafis against Islah. Every party has some weakness and each of them accuse the state. We do not play with these papers."

Concerning donors' commitment to their pledges to support Yemen's development, Saleh said donors are 80 percent committed of their pledge and there might be a problem between them and the government over the government's assimilation of these funds. He affirmed that these funds are assigned to development not for any other purposes.




Saba