Armies of Liberation

Telegraph:

Britain has launched a drive for an international accord granting the Royal Navy and Western warships rights to enter Somali territorial waters in pursuit of pirate gangs linked to al-Qa’eda.

Pirate activity has soared off the Horn of Africa this year with the emergence of highly sophisticated gangs that use fast patrol boats, launched from “mother ships” to board cargo vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

The lucrative multi-million-dollar kidnap and ransom trade, which is dominated by al-Qa’eda, according to terrorism experts, threatens to disrupt international shipping lanes used to carry cargo from the Far East to Europe. A meeting in London of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations’ watchdog of the seas, is to consider a resolution today instructing Somalia’s interim government to drop its legal right to block foreign navies from entering its waters. (Read on …)

Actually al-Badawi escaped twice. BDAfrica

Horn of Africa in a steady decline towards chaos
Written by Douglas Farah
November 30, 2007: Al Qaeda and its affiliates in recent years have made no secret their desire to open new hot war fronts that will drain the willpower of the West.

The Horn of Africa is clearly part of that strategy, and the inroads the radicals have made are now clear. Perhaps the most dramatic public setback has been the government of Yemen’s decision to pardon Jamal al-Badawi, a key architect of the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole.

The bombing left 17 US sailors dead, and was the announcement of al Qaeda’s continuing presence in the region. In 1998, the group successfully bombed two US embassies in East Africa. Al-Badawi, who recruited the Cole bombers, was originally sentenced to death, had escaped from prison once, and was recaptured. He suddenly swore allegiance to Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Last week, Badawi was set free.

The pardon came just days after Frances Fragos Townsend, President Bush’s top counterterrorism adviser, had been in Yemen praising that nation’s contributions to the war on terror. Who played who like a fiddle?

Compounding the insult, US officials say they have strong reason to believe a number of other al Qaeda figures have been released by the Yemenis, including Jaber Elbaneh, an FBI fugitive who was indicted for providing material support to al Qaeda as part of the investigation into a terror cell in Lackawana, New York, in 2003.

Al-Sahwa

YLS threatens to resort to collective political asylum

November 28, 2007- Chair of the Yemeni Lawyer Syndicate in Sana’a threatened that YLS will resort to political asylum if official authorities don’t end its constant violations against lawyers.

“Judges, prosecutions and security men commit infringements against lawyers through imprisoning them and preventing them form entering to police stations.

He further highlighted that YLS would plan to arrange protests, sit-ins and marches in case continuation of violations.

SANA’A, NewsYemen

Yemeni Veterinaries Syndicate has called veterinaries all over the country for a general strike next Sunday to ask for better attention while fighting bird flu and taking care of animal wealth.

The syndicate said in a statement that it had demanded from the government some legal financial extra for veterinaries, 80% of salary, in accordance with “Regulating Animal Wealth Law” issued in 2004.

Although the president ordered to give veterinaries the requested extra to better their living standards, the order was ignored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, said the statement.
It said that officials in the ministry did ignore the financial allowances for Bird Flu Controlling Room.

Because the syndicate is interested to avoid any troubles, specially in these difficult situations the country lives, it warns the ministry to positively interact with legal requests of veterinaries and all workers in animal wealth sector before implementing a general strike, said the statement.

A recent report, issued by the General Authority for Animal Resources in the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, has shown that the authority is unable to implement precautionary measures to prevent possible outbreaks of bird flu and rift valley diseases, which still threaten Yemen and neighboring areas.

The report attributes this incapacity to the lack of adequate funds to carry out preventive programs.
Few months ago, the Cabinet approved a support estimated at YR 50 million for agriculture sector to implement blocked projects.

If the people already inside Yemen were given an opportunity to express their political rights without retribution, then maybe people from abroad would return. But transfering teachers who demonstrate and charging al-Khaiwani with terrorism for *writing* and deploying tear gas against demonstrators in Aden really doesn’t give a good impression of the freedom to be politically active. Political passivism is encouraged and political activism punished. While Saleh was giving this speech about pluralism, citizens traveling to the demostration in Aden were beaten and one was killed. The speech also contains a thinly veil to anyone not

President calls on politicians abroad to return home

[29 November 2007]

ADEN, Nov. 29 (Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh called on Yemeni politicians abroad to return home, especially those who has not abused the people and the country, and to take part in the
political action in Yemen.

During a speech delivered in a big carnival held Thursday in the 22nd May Stadium in Aden on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Independence Day on November 30, President Saleh said that politicians have the right to practice political action but without prejudicing to the unification of the country, excluding “those who did so, their files are still open”. He also rejected all kinds of
violence and conspiracies. (Read on …)

al-Sahwa

November 29, 2007 -The editing manager of News Yemen website, Rashad al-Sharabi along with journalist Abdul-Hakim Hilal were subjected Thursday to seizure and violation and prevented from traveling to Al-Mokla by Sana’a Airport’s security authorities.
Al-Sharabi told “Alsahwa.net” that he was insulted, pushed and threatened by a security officer who seized him for 20 minutes.
It is worth mentioning that Al-Sharabi and Hilal were directing to Al-Moklah to train journalists there.
The media department of the Islah party denounced the event, claiming the Yemeni Journalist Syndicate to immediately take serious position toward such repeated assaults committed by security against journalists.

Al-Sahwa

November 29, 2007- Victims number of the confrontations erupted this week between the government forces and al-Houthi’s followers reached at least 10 from the two sides.

Security sources affirmed to Alsahwa.net that the government forces would check strongly any aggressions, pointing out to an ambush set by the rebels had led to the death of all military crew’s members.

The sources also said that the government forces arrested 10 rebels suspected of ambushing the crew on Tuesday.

November 28, 2007- Local sources in Saada governorate have affirmed that 5 soldiers and 2 rebels were killed in the wake of a abrupt attack launched Tuesday by al-Houthi followers against government position in al-Safra district, Saada.

On other hands, two al-Howuthi rebels were dead and another was wounded Sunday in Sahar district, Saada province, in a clash with the government forces.

Sources told Alsahw.net that the clash erupted after the rebels had tried to prevent vaccination campaign committee from performing their tasks in the area.

It is worth reclaiming that several similar confrontations had occurred last days between the government forces and rebels in various areas of Saada governorate.

no no no

Security official denies clashes with Saada rebels

[01 December 2007]

SAADA, Dec. 01 (Saba) – The Saada security director Mohammed al-Qahm denied what the opposition al-Eslah party-run website has reported that there were violent confrontations between the army and rebel elements in Sahar district of Saada province, the Saba-run al-Syasiah newspaper reported on Saturday.

He said there have been no armed clashes between the military and rebels, asserting that the situation is calm in all Saada districts.

He made clear that rebels at Al Salah area in Sahar district attacked last Tuesday a military vehicle and ran away, pointing out that armed clashes occurred from time to time with rebel elements
aiming at disturbing security in the province.

Al-Eslah website said, according to what it described tribal sources, that ten killed, five of which were rebels, during an armed confrontations last Tuesday between army and Saada rebels in Sahar district.

Worth mentioning, a Qatari mediation managed last June to reach a ceasefire agreement between the government and rebels following Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

Update: Condi requests delay:
The fourth Forum for the Future that Sana’a was going to host in the 4-5 December was postponed until the end of January due to the engagement of some Ministers during that time and at the top was Condoleezza Rice who apologized and asked for postponement, said Mohi al-Dhabbi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

al-Motamar:

almotamar.net – Almotamar.net on Friday learned from diplomatic sources that holding the 4th future Forum that was scheduled to convene in Yemen this week has been postponed until January 2008.

The sources told almotamar.net the postponement was because a number of foreign ministers of participating countries are engaged with other conferences coinciding with the date of the convention date of the forum in Sana’a. (Read on …)

Syrian FM praises Yemeni regional stands

[30 November 2007]

DAMASCUS, Nov. 30 (Saba) – Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem expressed on Thursday his appreciation of the Yemeni regional stands on the Arab issues.

During his meeting here with Yemeni ambassador to Syria Salah al-Ansi, Muallem asserted the firmness of relations between the two brotherly countries and his country’s keenness on boosting them in the future.

Al-Ansi affirmed, for his part, willingness of the government to advance the Yemeni-Syrian ties to serve both peoples’ interests.

Loan form China to finance Chinese company that will build cement factory

Chinese deputy minister of foreign affairs to visit Yemen soon

[30 November 2007]

SANA’A, Nov. 30 (Saba)- Chinese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs is to visit Yemen by mid of next month, 26sep.net report on Friday.

According to official sources, the Chinese official would hold talks with the officials in the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation to sign a loan agreement at 40 million Yuan.

The sum will be used to develop Bajel Cement Factory that will be implemented by a Chinese company at amount of $115 million.

AH/AM

Saba

Al-Motamar: Russia to build trains.

almotamar.net – Yemen’s ambassador to Moscow Mohammed Saleh al-Hilali announced Friday that Yemen plans to build a railroad that will link Yemen to Saudi Arabia and Oman with the help of Russia.

Al-Hilali called on Russian businessmen for investing in this project and affirmed that the Yemeni government would offer facilities and guarantees t foreign investors.

In an interview with the Russian Novosty news agency the Yemeni ambassador announced that the Russian-Yemeni Business Council would, under a support from the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Russian Foreign Ministry, Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry would organise the Russian-Yemeni Forum in Sana’a on 8-12 of December , 2007.

The forum aims to develop relations between governmental industrial, financial and scientific circles in Yemen and Russia.

Yemen plans to build railway linking with Saudi Arabia, Oman

[01 December 2007]

SANA’A, Dec 01(Saba)- The Yemeni ambassador to Russia Mohammed Saleh al-Hilali has said to the Russian news and information agency “RIA Novosti” that Yemen plans to build railways linking Yemen with Saudi Arabia and Oman, the state-run 26sep.net reported on Saturday.

Al-Hilali urged Russian businessmen to invest in the project, affirming the government would offer special facilitations to the Russian investors.

Al-Hilali noted the Yemeni-Russian Businessmen’s Council would organize a forum to reinforce relations between industrial, financial, scientific and governmental bodies in the two countries.

The forum will be organized under an invitation from the Russian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Foreign Ministry and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation.

FR/YA