[19/March/2010]

SANA’A, March 19 (Saba)- A Yemeni official has described al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, Osama Bin Ladin, as "the big devil" and leader of al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula in Yemen, Nasser al-Wuhayshi, as "the small devil". 

Numaan Dowaid, governor of Sana'a, was quoted by the Saudi daily Okaz as saying that the explosive capsule used in the failed attempt on Prince Mohammad's life was prepared by members of al-Qaeda who were trained in Afghanistan.

The attempt on the life of Prince Muhammad, assistant minister of interior for security affairs, took place on 27 August.

The suicide bomber who tried to assassinate Prince Muhammad was later identified by the Ministry of Interior as 23-year-old Abdullah Hassan Tali' Asiri. Asiri was on the kingdom's list of 85 most-wanted militants. Asiri died in the attack while the prince suffered slight injuries.

The Yemeni official claimed that the "advanced technique" used in preparing the capsule was not available in Yemen.

"The techniques used are advanced. The capsule was prepared by the deviant organization," he said.

He rejected previous claims by Yemeni sources that the explosive capsule was made in Yemen and that it used chemicals that were readily available at local markets.

The al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula had previously announced, on extremist websites, that it was responsible for the attack.

Dowaid admitted that there were al-Qaeda training camps in Yemen but said that these members did not have access to advanced technology.

The Yemeni official said that al-Qaeda members were trained in Afghanistan and were then sent to Yemen to carry out terrorist operations against Yemen and the kingdom.

"They think they will be remembered as heroes but they are serving the goals and ambitions of the enemies of the Ummah," he said.

Dowaid claimed that the leadership of al-Qaeda in Yemen were hiding somewhere in Shabwa Province but he could not confirm exactly where they were.

"If we knew, we would not hesitate in raiding the place."

He said both have been trying to destabilize Yemen, target its infrastructure and institutions. In a similar way, they were trying to target the kingdom's security.

Dowaid would not confirm or deny that Saudis were among the 11-member al-Qaeda cell arrested at a house raided by authorities in the capital Sana'a earlier this month. The raid resulted in the death of the father of one of the cell's members. Yemeni sources said most of the cell members were young and were recruited in the area.

He said the al-Qaeda member, who attempted to escape from the Republican Hospital in Sana'a, was a Somali who also holds US citizenship.

"He asked to go to the toilet. He then picked up a tool and hit the guard. He failed to escape and security men arrested him."

He said that al-Qaeda in Yemen includes various non-Arab nationalities, including "Africans and Asians".

YA

Saba