Militants Raid Yemen Hotel Serving Alcohol, Kill 2

Wednesday, Jan 4, 2012
By Ahmed Al-haj
SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Islamic militants stormed a hotel where alcohol is served in a southern Yemeni city on Wednesday, setting the building on fire, killing two people and wounding 20.
The brazen attack illustrated how the militants, including Yemen’s dangerous al-Qaida branch, have gained strength and are showing increased boldness in southern Yemen.
The militants have taken advantage of a security vacuum resulting from nearly a year of internal political turmoil over demands that President Ali Abdullah Saleh step down. His agreement to a power transfer plan has not quelled the unrest.
The hotel became a target for the militants because Muslims are forbidden from drinking alcohol.