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Arabia
Yemen: Trial uncovers shocking terrorist plots
2005-06-05
In its Monday session, the counter-terrorism court tried terrorists involved in plotting terror attacks against western interests in Yemen. During the session, the prosecution presented all the seized tools planned to be used by the armed band in assaulting western interests in Yemen including the British and the Italian embassies and the French Cultural Center. The terrorist plans also included assassination plots against senior government officials. The prosecution presented to the court a computer device, grenades, 30 bullets, video camera and a military uniform as well as a bag containing two daggers.

In the session, top defendant Anwar al-Jailani, an Iraqi with Swiss citizenship and one of the 8 tried suspects, confessed to the possession of the articles seized by the prosecution. The top defendant denied the seized hand grenades were possessed by him and he never used any camera to take photos of the targets (the British and the Italian embassies and the Frech Cultural Center) as the prosecution mentioned. He affirmed that he used the camera for personal purposes. Previous reports of the general prosecution emphasized that Anwar al-Jailani made a confession of the tools seized in the investigation report, and other documents related to plotting western interests were uncovered.

Suspect Ahmad Khaiti, a Syrian national, confessed in the session that the computer never contained any data relevant to terrorist operations. The computer was taken away from his house two months after he was arrested, and therefore he claimed the court to return his computer since it was of no relevance to the plots.

Defendant Abdurrahman Basurrah confessed that he bought a military uniform 5 months before he recognized Anwar al-Jailani, and the purpose of the uniform is to imitate the role of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in one of the student activities.

Suspect Salah Othman stated the cheques presented by the prosecution in the session are real ones carrying the names of beneficiaries in handwriting.

The prosecution responded to appeals of the defense advocate of suspects No. 7 and 8 concerning the illness of suspect Amran al-Faqih and forwarded a medical report stating that the suspect does not suffer from anything though his heart is placed to the right side of his chest. The court granted the suspects a chance to respond to evidences filed against them by the prosecution. It is worth mentioning that trials of the 8 terrorists involved in the formation of an armed band disclosed several shocking facts. The trials uncovered the 8-terrorist band was plotting to carry out offensives on western interests in Yemen.

The band was led by Anwar al-Jailani who was aided by two Syrian brothers and five Yemenis. The suspects were captured in Yemen for being involved in plotting to attack western interests in Yemen including embassies and foreign cultural centers, as well as forging documents carrying unidentified names to facilitate their tasks. Previous court sittings disclosed these terrorists were backed by "al-Tawhid Battalions Organization", which is also believed to have stood behind terrorist operations against western interests in Saudi Arabia, mainly U.S. owned facilities. Trials on terrorists revealed the 8-terrorist band was plotting to assassinate government dignitaries topped by Prime Minister Abdulqader Bajammal, Interior and Defense Ministers, President of the Yemeni Intelligence Organization and a number of the People's General Congress Party leaders.
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Arabia
Saudi FM slams Western initiatives, says Arabs capable of self-reform
2004-03-21
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal Sunday criticized the American and Western initiatives directed to the Arab countries. Al-Faisal asserted that his country is following local reform plans, noting that the Arab world has suffered from colonization, which created economic, political, and social obstacles.
Ummm... That was 50 years ago. And they were colonized because they were primitive and incapable of governing themselves...
He highlighted the Arabs' need for foreign help on two main issues, the Palestinian cause and the participation of rich countries in opening new markets and increasing investments. He added that "we are not calling for help for free ... we are calling for a real partnership," asserting that "Arabs are open and they know their interest, duties, and rights."
Yes. We've seen that from Soddy Arabia's dealings with Western companies within its borders...
Al-Faisal met Sunday the Yemeni President Ali Saleh and handed him a letter from the Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, said the Yemeni News Agency. The agency said that the letter touched on the relations between both countries and the fields of cooperation, in addition to the developments in the region, especially in Palestine and Iraq. Al-Faisal and Saleh also discussed the preparations for the upcoming Arab Summit in Tunisia, in addition to the Arab view on reform in the area. Al-Faisal also held talks with his Yemeni counterpart Abu Bakr Al-Qerbi on methods to improve bilateral relations and cooperation in fighting terrorism. Al-Qerbi asserted the Arab countries are at a critical stage that requires them to reconsider their relations with their neighbors. He said that many Arab countries started reforms in the political, social, or educational field. He said that both countries believe that they face one enemy when they fight terrorism and create a real partnership, adding that "Yemen and Saudi Arabia are the largest partners at the Arabian Peninsula level". Al-Faisal and the Yemeni Prime Minister Abdulqader Bajammal discussed the relationships between both countries, especially in the field of investment, trade, and economic integration. Bajammal noted the changes in the Arab countries that serve its interests, noting the importance that this change comes from inside the Arab countries, not from outside.
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Arabia
Terrorist activity killed the AFZ: Bajammal
2003-11-10
Prime Minister Abdulqader Bajammal recently responded to Yemeni media reports over the purchase of the operation of the Aden Free Zone from its previous owner, Yeminvest, for U.S. $200 million. In a statement to the 26th September weekly newspaper, the organ of the Yemen’s armed forces, Bajammal focused on different phases of the Aden Free Zone, and bodies that took part in its operation. He indicated that the Aden Terminal Container started its operation in 1997, “but terror incidents that that took place in Yemen such as, the explosion of the USS Cole destroyer and the French supertanker, Limburg have led to a withdrawal of activities at the terminal. It led also to a 300 per cent increase of the insurance duties on the part of ships coming to the Yemeni harbors.” As a result of those conditions, the investors at the Aden Free Zone have decided to discard continuing working in the project due to some circumstances, said the prime minister.
Thank you, Osama bin Stupid. But jihad's ever so much more important than mere filthy lucre. Who needs jobs when there are infidels to kill?
The Yemeni government’s purchase of the AFZ project at a cost of US $200 million, will bring positive results and benefit to Yemen’s troubled economy, said Bajammal.
Until something else blows up.
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