Yemeni authorities arrested 3 Al-Qaeda militants in Aden

By Fatik al-Rodaini

SANA'A, April 4, 2012- At least 3 suspected Al-Qaeda militants were arrested on Tuesday in Yemen's southern sea-port of Aden by Yemeni authorities.

Yemen's Interior Ministry said that the 3 militants, who were detained in Sheikh Othman district were accused of killing, looting, criminal activities, and abuses against civilian population in southern provinces.

No more details were reported.

Meanwhile, tribal sources said that the kidnapers of abducted Swiss teacher woman, Sylvia Abrahat was handed over to Al-Qaeda militants for $50,000.

Last month Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, AQAP, put new demands to release Abrahat.

The group, which belongs to Ansar al-Sharia, demanded the immediate release of Osama bin Laden's wives, along with the release of 100 prisoners in Yemeni jails with links to Al-Qaeda, and demanding a ransom of 50 million Euros

A tribal source who has been mediating with Sylvia Abrahat kidnappers said that their demands were impossible.

The militants demanded the release of numerous widows in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia jails.

The Swiss national, a language teacher, was kidnapped on March 14 in the western sea-port of Hodeida where officials admitted that a breakdown in security had allowed gangs and criminals to flourish.

Sylvia was transported by her abductors across 3 provinces to the oil-rich and restive Shabwa, where al-Qaeda militants have established yet another stronghold.

Kidnappings of Western tourists or workers by tribes seeking ransom or concessions from the government have been frequent in Yemen, one of the poorest Arab countries. Most of the hostages have been freed unharmed.