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Arabia

Yemen President Dismisses three Commanders after Suicide Attack in Sana'a

2012-05-22

[Yemen Post] Yemen President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi issued republican decrees dismissing high-ranking commanders of security units in the country, after more than 100 soldiers were killed on Monday morning during rehearsals for a military parade, Hadi fired the commander of the Central Security Forces Abdul-Malik al-Taib, the commander of the Rescue Division Mohammed Abdullah al-Qawsi, and the deputy commander of the National Security. Fadhal Yahya al-Qawsi was appointed to replace al-Taib and Mohammed Jamee al-Kadar took over the national security post. Hussein Mohammed al-Radhai was appointed to take over the Rescue Division. Hadi's decrees came only after a few hours of a deadly suicide kaboom in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a that left 100 plus soldiers killed, mostly from the Central Security Forces. The attack has exposed the fragile security and bad security measures and leadership in the country and needed some decisive actions taken, therefore Hadi took some actions. Meanwhile, ...back at the sea battle, the Terror of the Baltic's career had come to an abrupt and watery end... an official at the Central Yemeni Forces said that the corpse count for the atrocious attack that targeted soldiers today morning at al-Sabeen square rose to about 120. The attack occurred in one of the most secure areas in Sana'a, reflecting the fragile security situation in Yemen. For their parts, the Arab Summit chief Nabil al-Arabi, the chief of the Islamic Cooperation Council Akmal al-Deen Ihsan, and the Chief of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdul-Atif al-Zayani condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack. They stressed this attack underscores the need for doubling the ongoing efforts to get Yemen back on track.

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Arabia

German ambassador: Saleh's interference complicates Matters in Yemen

2012-05-20

[Yemen Post] The German ambassador to Sana'a Holger Green said that former President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh's ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... and his relatives' interference in Yemen's affairs complicates matters for current President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, warning that the EU actions will be very painful. His comments came after US President Barrack Obama issued an executive order on this past Wednesday giving the Treasury the authority to freeze the assets of Yemeni officials obstructing the transitional process and the implementation of the GCC-brokered power transfer deal signed in Riyadh in Nov. 2011. In an interview with a local English newspaper, Green stressed that Saleh has not left the political scene in Yemen yet, citing the recent events in which Saleh and his aides proved that they are still influential in the country's politics, much to the dismay of Hadi. Speaking about Hadi, he says Yemen has a full legitimatized President who enjoys the support of the whole international community. Green underlined the importance of the upcoming national dialogue to kick off soon, as maintained in the GCC deal, and cautioned that the failure of the dialogue will be disastrous for Yemen. "I think it is not a good idea to enter dialogue with preconditions as it only helps complicate matters," Green said. He ruled out the possibility of a short-term remedy for Yemen's crises and noted that the investment in people is the best way to boost the economy as the natural resources are not sustainable.

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Arabia

Yemeni Jews call for political participation

2012-05-20

[Yemen Post] Yemeni Jews called for a political participation in the two houses of Yemeni parliament. They called on President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi and the National Unity Government to allocate special seats for the Jews in the House of Representatives as well as in the Shura Council.The Jewish head in Yemen, Yahya Yousof Mosa, said in an interview with the CNN Arabic site, "I call on the new government to pay attention to this side and to work on earmarking seats for the Jewish people in the Parliament and Shura Council for us to feel the real citizenship and that we are not discriminated against. This is our constitutional right," He noted that" when I saw my two sons, Shama and Saeed, join the Children Parliament I felt glad as did all Jewish minority here in Yemen when they knew that two Jewish kids were part of the Children Parliament. They were glad because they felt that we are equal in rights and duties.""I hope that we have seats in the Parliament and Shura Council and participate in everything that serves the Jewish minority in particular, and Yemen in general. We take part in the local and parliamentarian elections," Mosa said.Speaking about Children Parliament, he said, "This parliament made us fee that we exercise our rights and that we are a part of this country. We felt we are able to look into the suffering of the Jewish people and Yemeni people in general. In Europe, USA all people get to participate in the political process, therefore we call on President Hadi and the National Unity Government to consider our demands."Mosa pointed out that the Yemeni Jews have been being offered a lot temptations to leave Yemen for Israel or America but they refused" because we are Yemenis and from Yemeni ancestors."There are many Jews who went to Israel and came back because they could not adjust to the different culture and traditions. They now feel more comfortable in Yemen." He added.

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Arabia

Southern leader urges followers to fight al-Qaeda alongside troops

2012-05-18

[Yemen Post] Media reports said on Thursday citing the former Abyan ...a governorate of Yemen. The region was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army terrorist group until it dropped the name and joined al-Qaeda. Its capital is Zinjibar. In March 2011, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula declared the governate an Islamic Emirate after seizing control of the region. The New York Times fastidiously reported that those in control, while Islamic hard boyz, are not in fact al-Qaeda, but something else that looks, tastes, smells, and acts the same. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region when President-for-Life Saleh was tossed and the carnage continues... governor Ahmed al-Maisari that the high-ranking leading figure in the pro-secessionist Southern Movement, Mohammed Ali Ahmed, urged his followers to fight al-Qaeda elements alongside the army troops in Abyan.Ahmed told the London-based Sharaq al-Awsat newspaper that he called on his tribe affiliates in Abyan to fight al-Qaeda elements which have been battling army troops assisted by tribal militias for months.The southern leader came back home after more than 15 years of living in exile. His return to Yemen which coincided with new Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi rise to office, sparked controversy and speculation as many people believed that he came back to support Hadi. Hadi and Ahmed are from the same area.Al-Maisari denied that there are American troops on the ground fighting alongside the Yemeni army, arguing the existence of US troops would not be of help whatsoever to the army, rather it would have a negative effect, al-Masdar online newspaper reported.He stressed that things have turned around for the army troops' favor after the air force was involved heavily in the battles. He put the number of the aircraft's' Arclight airstrikes at about 50 per day."The festivities stopped in Zinjubar--the picturesque provincial capital of Abyan--which means that al-Qaeda influence in the town have collapsed. The past few days witnessed considerable evacuation process by the Islamic fascisti towards other areas," he said."The government intends to repeat the tribal militias in Lawdar and other places where al-Qaeda operatives still powerful." Ahmed added.

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Arabia

Nearly 160.000 persons displaced from Abyan

2012-05-18

[Yemen Post] Approximately 160.000 persons were displaced from Abyan ...a governorate of Yemen. The region was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army terrorist group until it dropped the name and joined al-Qaeda. Its capital is Zinjibar. In March 2011, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula declared the governate an Islamic Emirate after seizing control of the region. The New York Times fastidiously reported that those in control, while Islamic hard boyz, are not in fact al-Qaeda, but something else that looks, tastes, smells, and acts the same. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region when President-for-Life Saleh was tossed and the carnage continues... due to conflicts between the Yemeni army and Ansar Al-Sharia (supporters of the Islamic law) an Al-Qaeda linked group, chief of the Executive Unit of Refugee Affairs Ahmed Al-Kohlani said. Al-Kohlani told 26 September Newspaper that the displaced persons in Abyan suffer of deteriorated humanitarian situations, pointing out that some of them left their homes and villages more than a year ago. He affirmed that the foodstuffs provided by the World Food Program (WFP) are not enough to alleviate the suffers of the displaced persons. He said that the figure of the displaced persons from Saada and Abyan governorates amounted 535.000, indicating that the Executive Unit of Refugee Affairs could not manage to record all the displaced. With the conflict escalating in some towns of Abyan, further numbers of the displaced are expected to leave their areas in the up-coming days, particularly as the Yemeni army is determined to cleanse Abyan from Al-Qaeda bad turbans. Abyan's refugees escaped fierce fighting were forced to live in a number of the city's schools in the neighboring governorates of Aden and Lahj. President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi vowed to invade Abyan and evacuate Death Eaters in order to enable displaced people to return to their homes. Some refugees complained that the response of aid organizations are slow, pointing out that they have no enough food. According to the chief UN representative in Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Yemen suffers a much more profound and much more deep humanitarian crisis as a result of the turbulence that hit the state in 2011.

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Arabia

Use of Americans in fighting Al-Qaeda denied

2012-05-13

[Yemen Post] Yemeni military sources have denied that US forces are brought to participate in fighting Al-Qaeda in the southern governorate of Abyan ...a governorate of Yemen. The region was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army terrorist group until it dropped the name and joined al-Qaeda. Its capital is Zinjibar. In March 2011, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula declared the governate an Islamic Emirate after seizing control of the region. The New York Times fastidiously reported that those in control, while Islamic hard boyz, are not in fact al-Qaeda, but something else that looks, tastes, smells, and acts the same. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region when President-for-Life Saleh was tossed and the carnage continues... The sources made it clear that a number of military US experts were brought in to train anti-terrorism forces tasked with fighting al-Qaeda in some southern governorates. Sources had told Yemen Post that the United States sent nearly 45 counter-terror trainers to Yemen this week in an effort to strengthen the Yemeni government's ability to fight al-Qaeda. According to the Christian Science Monitor, the Pentagon announced that it has begun sending US troops into Yemen. " The troops will help train Yemeni soldiers, and together with a campaign of drone strikes and an increased intelligence presence, the aim is to hold AQAP in check while rebuilding the Yemeni government's capacity to fight its own battles" the newspaper added Meanwhile, ...back at the scene of the crime, Lieutenant Queeg had an idea: there was a simple way to tell whether Manetti had been the triggerman -- just look at his shoes!... the Yemeni military started its attacks against some areas of Abyan that are under the control of the Anar Al-Sharia (Supporters of the Islamic Law) an Al-Qaeda-linked group. Local sources affirmed that rocks of kabooms were heard in Jaar after military units imposed a siege on the town since the morning of Saturday. The sources affirmed that the military goes on its progress, pointing out that it stormed the town from its western-north direction. Three big shots of Al-Qaeda leaders were killed in Lawdar town of Abyan on Thursday and Friday after festivities broke out between the 111 Infantry Brigade and public committee formed of local rustics. However, women are made to be loved, not understood... Al-Qaeda killed and captured dozens of Yemeni soldiers on Monday two days after Yemen President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi vowed to defeat Al-Qaeda in Abyan, his birthplace province.

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Arabia

Hadi refuses mediation to end fighting with Al-Qaeda

2012-05-09

[Yemen Post] President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi has refused a mediation of Salafi holy mans to end fighting with Al-Qaeda, conditioning that the group must first surrender all its heavy arms, Al-Ahali Newspaper quoted well-informed sources. The sources said the holy mans met with Hadi on Monday and suggested to make a truce between both sides, pointing out that Hadi expressed his determination to defeat the so-called Ansar Al-Sharia (Supporters of the Islamic Law) in Abyan. ...a governorate of Yemen. The region was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army terrorist group until it dropped the name and joined al-Qaeda. Its capital is Zinjibar. In March 2011, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula declared the governate an Islamic Emirate after seizing control of the region. The New York Times fastidiously reported that those in control, while Islamic hard boyz, are not in fact al-Qaeda, but something else that looks, tastes, smells, and acts the same. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region when President-for-Life Saleh was tossed and the carnage continues... Hadi had met with political, military and tribal leaders of Abyan governorate, his birthplace, on Monday and expressed its willingness to support public committees that fight beside the Yemeni army in Abyan. The Yemeni News Agency said on Monday said a memo was handed over to Hadi in which rustics of Abyan explained deteriorated living conditions in some districts controlled by Al-Qaeda in Abyan. The memo accused the former president President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... of assisting Al-Qaeda in taking control in Zinjibar and displacing thousands of people. Among leaders who met with Hadi Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Al-Shadadi, the politician Ali Ashaal, the Culture Minister Abdullah Awbal, and assistant of the Interior Minister Hussein Haitham. Yemen's Defense Ministry stated on Monday that 22 troops were killed in a raid launched by Al-Qaeda against military positions in Zinjibar of Abyan. This fierce attack of Al-Qaeda against the Yemen army came after a US drone killed an Al-Qaeda leader, Fahad Al-Qasa'a on Sunday in Al-Saeed district, 60 kilometers east of Shabwa's capital, Ataq was designated as number three on America's most-wanted list. Hadi vowed in a meeting with military leaders on Saturday to defeat Al-Qaeda and reorganize Yemen's divided military.

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Arabia

Dangerous Al-Qaeda operative killed in Lahj

2012-05-08

[Yemen Post] Public committees formed from rustics in the southern city of Lahj killed on Monday Bassam Al-Sayed, the most dangerous Al-Qaeda operative in Radfan of Lahj governorate. Al-Said is pursued by Yemen's security on charges of committing murders and abductions. Eyewitness said festivities erupted between Al-Said and his followers, and rustics of the public committees on Monday, pointing out that Al-Said was killed and his followers managed to escape. Yemen's authorities set to sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a life-long lock You have the right to remain silent... Al-Said in February 2010, but he could escape the prison in uncertain conditions. Local sources said Al-Sayed engaged with Al-Qaeda and continuously moved between Radafan and Abyan ...a governorate of Yemen. The region was a base to the Aden-Abyan Islamic Army terrorist group until it dropped the name and joined al-Qaeda. Its capital is Zinjibar. In March 2011, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula declared the governate an Islamic Emirate after seizing control of the region. The New York Times fastidiously reported that those in control, while Islamic hard boyz, are not in fact al-Qaeda, but something else that looks, tastes, smells, and acts the same. Yemeni government forces launched an effort to re-establish control of the region when President-for-Life Saleh was tossed and the carnage continues... after his escape, pointing out that his moves were constrained after the public committees set up checkpoints on main roads. The sources reradiated that the public committees set to sit in solemn silence in a dull, dark dock, in a pestilential prison with a life-long lock You have the right to remain silent... in late March eight Al-Qaeda suspects after receiving threats of a surprise attack by Al-Qaeda faceless myrmidons against Lahj, pointing out that Syrian and Saudi were among the arrestees. They affirmed that rustics handed over the faceless myrmidons to security services of Lahj that in turn transferred them to Al-Anad military camp. Ansar Al-Shariah repeatedly threatened to storm Yafa'a, a distrct of Lahj, and take control on the town, local sources said.The Yemeni army made progress against Ansar Al-Shariah in Abyan and could reach to the heart of Zinjibar after air-fighters launched strikes on the town.According to Yemen's Defense Ministry, most veteran leaders of Al-Qaeda including Fahad Al-Qasa were killed and some others could escape outside the governorate of Abyan.However, there's more than one way to stuff a chicken... Al-Qaeda killed and captured dozens of Yemeni soldiers on Monday two days after Yemen President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi vowed to defeat Al-Qaeda in Abyan, his birthplace province.

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Arabia

Al-Janadi urges Saleh to step down from GPC

2012-04-26

[Yemen Post] Abdu Janadi, the spokesperson for the General People Congress Party (GPC) and one of the biggest aides of the former President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... , called on Saleh himself to step down as the head of the GPC, which he founded and led since 1986.Al-Janadi called on Saleh to quit his post as the head of the GPC in order to give way to the new President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi to lead the party.The paper said that Araf al-Zawka, a leading figure in the party, rejected al-Janadi's request while Saleh said that it's the party which can decides who remains and who leaves.According to sources, Saleh said his nephew, Tariq Mohammed Saleh, who was dismissed by a presidential decree early this month, does not want the job reassigned to him by Hadi. He was sacked from his post as the head of Presidential Guard, and reappointed as the commander of 3rd Armored Brigade.Tariq will lead the guards of his uncle, Saleh, who is still the head of the GPC, said the paper.Saleh and Hadi relationship has sharply deteriorated when Hadi refused to attend the meeting of the GPC party, which was headed by Saleh.

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Arabia

Al-Zindani calls on Yemenis to stand by Hadi

2012-04-21

[Yemen Post] Abdul-Majeed al-Zindani, the Yemeni prominent holy man and Islamic Islah party high-ranking leader, called on Yemenis on Friday to stand by President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi in his efforts to restore security and get things back to track, condemning the spread of violence acts by the bad turban groups across the nation. In an interview with the daily Akbar al-Youm newspaper, al-Zandani said that it's forbidden to carry weapons or to kill another Moslem, citing Prophet Mohammed when he said whoever carries a weapon on us is not from us. He called on the National Unity Government and President Hadi to quickly hold the inclusive national dialogue and to base the dialogue on clear objectives, including banning carrying weapons. The prominent Islamic holy man, who is on US wanted list, noted that every one complained about the former regime because it repressed peaceful protests, restricted freedoms and violated rights, but now there is new president and new era. Speaking about the fundamentalist Islamic groups like al-Qaeda, al-Zandani Showed complete objection to what these groups do such as fighting and killing Moslem soldiers, saying we should correct the misconceptions on which such acts were based. With regards to the upcoming national dialogue, he said that the national dialogue should be held in a transparent way that all Yemeni people know every thing goes on in it. "The government should invite all forces and factions in Yemen to participate in the upcoming national dialogue, who ever accept the invitation and takes part in it is welcome and those who refuse to participate and lay down arms the government along with all Yemeni people should take a decisive stance against them. The government should restore security and stability in the country." Al-Zandani suggested. Al-Zandani further pointed out that it's forbidden in Islam to attack foreigners or their interests. No doubt one of those abrogated verses or a hudna or something...

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Arabia

Republican Guard forces storm Tariq air base in Taiz

2012-04-18

[Yemen Post] Republican Guard troops stormed forcibly on Tuesday Tariq Air Force base in the southern province of Taiz, some 260 kilometers south the Yemeni capital of Sana'a, security officials told Yemen Post. The elite republican guard forces stormed the base after they intensely shelled the areas around the military airport, and set up new checkpoints and military posts in the area, the security official said on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press. The leadership of the elite republican guards wants to keep the dismissed chief in his position, completely ignoring President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi's orders, added the official. The elite Republican Guard, the best equipped and trained military troops in the country, is commanded by former President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... 's eldest son, Ahmed, who is allegedly trying to ensure that his uncle, Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, who was dismissed by a presidential decree early in April, keep his post as the chief of the Air Force. This escalation comes a day after al-Dailami air force base in Sana'a witnessed rising tensions due to the sacked commander refusal to listen to the President decrees whereby he was fired. For the first time since the protests against him erupted early this year, al-Ahmar who is also the half brother of Saleh left al-Dailami air base in order to meet with his brother. He was reported to have been rebuked by Saleh for leaving the base and told to return quickly, local media outlets reported. After two weeks of his dismissal, al-Ahmar is still defiant to Hadi and refused to hand over the command of the vital military institution, making Hadi orders he be put before a marshal court. But that is a very unlikely prospect given that most of the military is still run by Saleh's relatives and loyalists.

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Arabia

Military Committee underlines need for army reshuffle

2012-04-17

[Yemen Post] The Military Committee, formed in line with the GCC-brokered deal and headed by Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, underlined on Monday the primary importance of expedient reshuffle of the armed and security forces in the country.During its meeting held today in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a and attended by the US ambassador Gerald Feierstein and US technical delegation, the committee noted that the quick reformation of the army is an urgent strategic and vital need for the success of the GCC-accord, its mechanism, and the UN resolution about Yemen.The members of the committee further stressed the importance for enhancing the coordination and cooperation between the various military institutions as well as the two ministries of defense and interior in order to be able to foil any terrorist attack and restore security and stability in the country.For his part, Feirestein has hailed the steps taken by the military committee so far which has helped defuse tensions, and enhance military cooperation between Yemen and the ten states sponsoring the GCC deal, including the US.In this angle, Hadi sacked dozens of military commanders days ago, but some of fired generals are still defiant to date to his presidential decrees, stipulating that other commanders be simultaneously dismissed as well.Mohammed Saleh al-Ahmar, the dismissed Air Force chief and former President President-for-Life Ali Abdullah Saleh ... Saleh initially took power as a strongman of North Yemen in 1977, when disco was in flower, but he didn't invite Donna Summer to the inauguration and Blondie couldn't make it... 's half brother, refused to hand over the command to his appointed successor. In response, Hadi has ordered yesterday that he stand marshal tribunal.

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