Yemen declares war against al-Qaida
Source: Agencies |
January 15, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
YEMEN yesterday declared open war on al-Qaida and warned its citizens against aiding the global militant group, but Islamist clerics threatened jihad if foreign military forces intervene.
Yemen has come under pressure to act against al-Qaida since attacks on its two main allies, Saudi Arabia and the United States, by militants coming from Yemeni soil.
But facing an array of other threats, weak state control of much of the country, a burgeoning population and a weak economy, analysts say Yemen will need more than military might to stop the country from being a fertile breeding ground for militancy.
"The war security forces launched against al-Qaida elements is open whenever or wherever we find these elements," the Yemeni Defense Ministry's online newspaper "September 26" said, quoting an unnamed security source.
Yemeni security forces scoured rugged mountains for a second day using helicopters to hunt for some 25 suspected al-Qaida militants who fled raids on Tuesday in the southeastern province of Shabwa, security sources said. Violence also flared in a separate conflict with Shiites in the north.
Yemen had already intensified operations against al-Qaida since a Yemen-based wing of the group said it was behind a failed December 25 attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound US airliner.
But on top of the fight against al-Qaida in multiple provinces, Yemen is also battling a northern Shiite insurgency and trying to contain separatist sentiment in the south.
The US and Saudi Arabia fear al-Qaida will take advantage of Yemen's instability to spread its operations to the neighboring kingdom, the world's top oil exporter, and beyond.
Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said Yemen needs security assistance from the US and other allies to help it combat al-Qaida, but has rejected direct US intervention.
Yemeni officials acknowledge the need for US help with counter-terrorism and defense officials say Washington has been quietly supplying military equipment, intelligence and training to Yemen to use against al-Qaida.
But a group of 150 Islamist Yemeni clerics called for jihad if there were any foreign military intervention.
"In the event of any foreign party insisting on hostilities against, an assault on, or military or security intervention in Yemen, then Islam requires all its followers to pursue jihad," the statement said, signed by 150 clerics in the capital.
Yemen has come under pressure to act against al-Qaida since attacks on its two main allies, Saudi Arabia and the United States, by militants coming from Yemeni soil.
But facing an array of other threats, weak state control of much of the country, a burgeoning population and a weak economy, analysts say Yemen will need more than military might to stop the country from being a fertile breeding ground for militancy.
"The war security forces launched against al-Qaida elements is open whenever or wherever we find these elements," the Yemeni Defense Ministry's online newspaper "September 26" said, quoting an unnamed security source.
Yemeni security forces scoured rugged mountains for a second day using helicopters to hunt for some 25 suspected al-Qaida militants who fled raids on Tuesday in the southeastern province of Shabwa, security sources said. Violence also flared in a separate conflict with Shiites in the north.
Yemen had already intensified operations against al-Qaida since a Yemen-based wing of the group said it was behind a failed December 25 attempt to blow up a Detroit-bound US airliner.
But on top of the fight against al-Qaida in multiple provinces, Yemen is also battling a northern Shiite insurgency and trying to contain separatist sentiment in the south.
The US and Saudi Arabia fear al-Qaida will take advantage of Yemen's instability to spread its operations to the neighboring kingdom, the world's top oil exporter, and beyond.
Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said Yemen needs security assistance from the US and other allies to help it combat al-Qaida, but has rejected direct US intervention.
Yemeni officials acknowledge the need for US help with counter-terrorism and defense officials say Washington has been quietly supplying military equipment, intelligence and training to Yemen to use against al-Qaida.
But a group of 150 Islamist Yemeni clerics called for jihad if there were any foreign military intervention.
"In the event of any foreign party insisting on hostilities against, an assault on, or military or security intervention in Yemen, then Islam requires all its followers to pursue jihad," the statement said, signed by 150 clerics in the capital.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
