Yemeni authorities arrested two al-Qaeda militants in Sana'a

By Fatik al-Rodaini

SANA'A, May 22, 2012- Yemeni security forces arrested on Tuesday morning two suspected al-Qaeda militants in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a, a day after a suicide bomber killed and wounded more than 400 Yemeni troops on the ceremony's rehearsal.

Security officials said two al-Qaeda militants were managed to carry out attacks on the buses of participants of the military parade for the celebration of Yemen's National Day.

Ali Mohammed Nahshel and Jehad Mohammed Saed al-Aosta were arrested in al-Mesbahi Round by security forces while they were intending to commit suicide bombing on the buses of participants.

They two suspects were on a motorcycle carrying an explosive blast, the sources added.

Meanwhile, Yemeni President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi Tuesday attended a military parade in Sanaa in honor of Unity Day.

Hadi delivered a televised speech on late Monday promising to eradicate extremism.

"The war on terror will continue no matter the sacrifices," he vowed.

For security reasons the military parade, attended by high-ranking officers and other dignitaries, was held at the Faculty of Aviation and Air Defense.

"We will not let terrorists intimidate our military. We will continue to fight evil … until our land is free," Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ahmed Ali Ashwal said in a speech.

On May 22, 1990, the Republic of Yemen was born, uniting the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and the Yemen Arab Republic.