December 12, 2011
Foreign Secretary William Hague has welcomed the formation of the new Government of Yemen under the leadership of Vice-President Hadi.
Speaking today, he said:
“I welcome the formation of the new Government of Yemen under the leadership of Vice-President Hadi. This is another significant step forward in the implementation of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative.
“All political and military leaders in Yemen must now allow the new Government to tackle the desperate security and economic needs of its people. Today’s announcement offers a crucial opportunity to address these priorities as well as the ongoing threat posed by Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula. It is vital that the new government continues to adhere to the Gulf Cooperation Council plan. Our Embassy in Sana’a will be meeting Yemeni Ministers next week to explore what practical support we can offer”.
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Monday, December 12, 2011
EU to increase humanitarian aid to Yemen
BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (KUNA) -- The European Union (EU) announced Monday that it is increasing its humanitarian funding to Yemen with an additional 5 million euro due to the persistent instability, drought and poverty.
The decision brings the total EU humanitarian funding to Yemen to almost 60 million euro. Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said in press statements that when she visited Yemen 11 months ago, the country was already on the brink of a humanitarian crisis.
"Since then the situation has worsened and hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, have too little to eat and are victims of violence," she said.
"At a critical moment for the country and its people we are boosting our relief aid and we will continue our support to the most vulnerable Yemeni families notably through the provision of food and health care," she added.
The additional European funding will help to provide assistance and protection to people affected by armed clashes and political turmoil as well as victims of the ongoing food crisis and refugees from the Horn of Africa, mostly from Somalia.
The decision brings the total EU humanitarian funding to Yemen to almost 60 million euro. Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said in press statements that when she visited Yemen 11 months ago, the country was already on the brink of a humanitarian crisis.
"Since then the situation has worsened and hundreds of thousands have lost their homes, have too little to eat and are victims of violence," she said.
"At a critical moment for the country and its people we are boosting our relief aid and we will continue our support to the most vulnerable Yemeni families notably through the provision of food and health care," she added.
The additional European funding will help to provide assistance and protection to people affected by armed clashes and political turmoil as well as victims of the ongoing food crisis and refugees from the Horn of Africa, mostly from Somalia.
Al-Qaeda Militants Escape In Yemen Jail Break
12/12/2011
(RTTNews) - At least 16 inmates, including 12 al-Qaeda militants, broke out of a prison in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Monday, reports quoting officials said.
They believed to have escaped through a six-meter tunnel dug from the yard of the port city's central prison.
Dozens of prisoners had escaped when al-Qaeda fighters stormed the central jail in Mukalla, another southern city, in June last.
The impoverished country in the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula is in turmoil facing insurgency in the north, a separatist movement in the south besides nationwide protests calling for political reforms and free elections. The city of Zinjibar, capital of Abyan province, has been witnessing fierce fightings between the Army and al-Qaeda militants.
Yielding to international pressure, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled the country for 32 years, had agreed last month to hand over powers to his deputy and quit office within 90 days.
(RTTNews) - At least 16 inmates, including 12 al-Qaeda militants, broke out of a prison in Yemen's southern city of Aden on Monday, reports quoting officials said.
They believed to have escaped through a six-meter tunnel dug from the yard of the port city's central prison.
Dozens of prisoners had escaped when al-Qaeda fighters stormed the central jail in Mukalla, another southern city, in June last.
The impoverished country in the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula is in turmoil facing insurgency in the north, a separatist movement in the south besides nationwide protests calling for political reforms and free elections. The city of Zinjibar, capital of Abyan province, has been witnessing fierce fightings between the Army and al-Qaeda militants.
Yielding to international pressure, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who ruled the country for 32 years, had agreed last month to hand over powers to his deputy and quit office within 90 days.
U.N. tries to bolster Yemen peace, Qaeda inmates in jail
December 12, 2011
ADEN (Reuters) - The U.N. envoy behind a Yemen power transfer deal to end months of protest called on Monday for southern separatists and northern Shi'ite rebels to be included as a fragile peace appeared to be holding in the capital Sanaa.
The comments came during a visit to the southern port city of Aden, where at least 16 prisoners, including al Qaeda members, tunneled out on Monday in a setback to efforts to rein in Islamist militants.
A new government set up last week after President Ali Abdullah Saleh handed over power to his deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi under the Gulf peace plan faces multiple challenges.
These include a wrecked economy, a resurgent separatist sentiment in the south and a rebellion by Houthi Shi'ite tribesmen in the northern province of Saada.
U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar, in Yemen to oversee implementation of the Gulf accord he orchestrated last month between Saleh and opposition leaders, on Sunday night met with southern leaders demanding secession from the country formed by the merger of South Yemen with the Saleh-ruled north in 1990.
Benomar said more work was needed for the peace accord to succeed. "It's essential that the political process include constituencies who were not directly involved in the negotiations that led to the agreement," he said.
"These include the Houthis, the southern movement and the youth. Serious effort will have to be made to address their grievances," he added.
Hundreds of people were at the airport in Aden when Benomar arrived, carrying signs reading, "Revolt, revolt, oh South!"
"We informed Benomar that the southern movement has nothing to do with the conflict in the north, but we are insistent on the demand to liberate land and people in the south," Abdelhamid Shukri, a leader of the Southern Hirak movement, told Reuters after the talks with Benomar.
PRISON BREAK
Islamist militants exploited months of protests against Saleh's 33-year rule to seize control of swathes of land in southern Yemen. This fanned fears in Saudi Arabia and Washington that the Yemeni branch of al Qaeda may gain a foothold near key oil shipping routes.
On Monday, at least 16 inmates, including members of al Qaeda, escaped from Aden central prison, a facility dating back to British rule which ended in 1967, through a tunnel they had dug underneath the compound.
A local source said eight among them belonged to al Qaeda, including some who had been convicted of bombing and assassination attacks on Yemeni security officials.
It was the second major jailbreak involving al Qaeda members since June, when dozens of al Qaeda militants escaped from a jail in another city, Mukalla.
Saleh's foes have accused him of deliberately letting Islamists in the south grow stronger to reinforce his argument that his rule alone can prevent the country sliding into chaos that would empower al Qaeda, whose Yemeni wing has planned abortive attacks on U.S. and other targets.
UNIVERSITY REOPENS
Despite the jail break, Yemenis have begun to see some fruits of the peace accord. A fragile calm appeared to be returning to the capital, which has been divided into three parts between Saleh loyalists and his opponents.
Witnesses said the University of Sanaa opened its doors on Monday for the first time since February, although students said many professors did not appear after dissident soldiers left the campus. Among the few who did, tensions between supporters and opponents of Saleh were evident.
"Most of the students are back to study, now that the unity government has been established, but we have a shortage of professors because many of them got contracts in Saudi Arabia," said Amjad, a student in the media department.
On Riyadh Street, the main commercial district in western Sanaa, shops opened for the first time since clashes between Saleh's forces and those allied with his arch-enemy, Ali Muhsin, a dissident general, began three months ago.
Armed soldiers remained behind sand barricades they had built to protect themselves but did not attack one another.
Despite their relief at the uncertain peace, shop owners worried about the lack of business in the city.
"We opened our shops despite our fear that clashes will resume... but there are no customers because people do not have money to buy things," local merchant Ahmed al-Umari said on Monday while sitting on a street corner outside his shop.
"If violence starts again I will escape to my country," said Ali, a merchant originally from East Africa. "I saw death during these clashes, there is no real safety here."
ADEN (Reuters) - The U.N. envoy behind a Yemen power transfer deal to end months of protest called on Monday for southern separatists and northern Shi'ite rebels to be included as a fragile peace appeared to be holding in the capital Sanaa.
The comments came during a visit to the southern port city of Aden, where at least 16 prisoners, including al Qaeda members, tunneled out on Monday in a setback to efforts to rein in Islamist militants.
A new government set up last week after President Ali Abdullah Saleh handed over power to his deputy Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi under the Gulf peace plan faces multiple challenges.
These include a wrecked economy, a resurgent separatist sentiment in the south and a rebellion by Houthi Shi'ite tribesmen in the northern province of Saada.
U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar, in Yemen to oversee implementation of the Gulf accord he orchestrated last month between Saleh and opposition leaders, on Sunday night met with southern leaders demanding secession from the country formed by the merger of South Yemen with the Saleh-ruled north in 1990.
Benomar said more work was needed for the peace accord to succeed. "It's essential that the political process include constituencies who were not directly involved in the negotiations that led to the agreement," he said.
"These include the Houthis, the southern movement and the youth. Serious effort will have to be made to address their grievances," he added.
Hundreds of people were at the airport in Aden when Benomar arrived, carrying signs reading, "Revolt, revolt, oh South!"
"We informed Benomar that the southern movement has nothing to do with the conflict in the north, but we are insistent on the demand to liberate land and people in the south," Abdelhamid Shukri, a leader of the Southern Hirak movement, told Reuters after the talks with Benomar.
PRISON BREAK
Islamist militants exploited months of protests against Saleh's 33-year rule to seize control of swathes of land in southern Yemen. This fanned fears in Saudi Arabia and Washington that the Yemeni branch of al Qaeda may gain a foothold near key oil shipping routes.
On Monday, at least 16 inmates, including members of al Qaeda, escaped from Aden central prison, a facility dating back to British rule which ended in 1967, through a tunnel they had dug underneath the compound.
A local source said eight among them belonged to al Qaeda, including some who had been convicted of bombing and assassination attacks on Yemeni security officials.
It was the second major jailbreak involving al Qaeda members since June, when dozens of al Qaeda militants escaped from a jail in another city, Mukalla.
Saleh's foes have accused him of deliberately letting Islamists in the south grow stronger to reinforce his argument that his rule alone can prevent the country sliding into chaos that would empower al Qaeda, whose Yemeni wing has planned abortive attacks on U.S. and other targets.
UNIVERSITY REOPENS
Despite the jail break, Yemenis have begun to see some fruits of the peace accord. A fragile calm appeared to be returning to the capital, which has been divided into three parts between Saleh loyalists and his opponents.
Witnesses said the University of Sanaa opened its doors on Monday for the first time since February, although students said many professors did not appear after dissident soldiers left the campus. Among the few who did, tensions between supporters and opponents of Saleh were evident.
"Most of the students are back to study, now that the unity government has been established, but we have a shortage of professors because many of them got contracts in Saudi Arabia," said Amjad, a student in the media department.
On Riyadh Street, the main commercial district in western Sanaa, shops opened for the first time since clashes between Saleh's forces and those allied with his arch-enemy, Ali Muhsin, a dissident general, began three months ago.
Armed soldiers remained behind sand barricades they had built to protect themselves but did not attack one another.
Despite their relief at the uncertain peace, shop owners worried about the lack of business in the city.
"We opened our shops despite our fear that clashes will resume... but there are no customers because people do not have money to buy things," local merchant Ahmed al-Umari said on Monday while sitting on a street corner outside his shop.
"If violence starts again I will escape to my country," said Ali, a merchant originally from East Africa. "I saw death during these clashes, there is no real safety here."
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