Yemen's protests could assist al-Qaeda, US official says

MOSCOW, March 22 (Saba) - US senior official voiced Tuesday its concern about the instable situation in Yemen that could sidetrack the government from encountering al-Qaeda.

During a trip to the Russian capital, Moscow, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said that the instability in Yemen could divert attention from the country's fight against al-Qaeda, calling the situation in Yemen a concern.

"We are obviously concerned about instability in Yemen," Gates told reporters traveling with him on his trip, where he was due to meet Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

"Instability and diversion of attention from dealing with al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is certainly my primary concern about the situation," he said.

Asked whether the United States still supported President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was facing the threat of a military coup, Gates said he would not discuss "internal affairs in Yemen".

Yemen unrest may hit LNG export, no impact yet-Total

NEW YORK, March 22 (Reuters) - Liquefied natural gas producer Yemen LNG has told customers unrest in the country could lead to supply disruptions and possible force majeure, a spokeswoman for leading stakeholder Total (TOTF.PA) said on Tuesday.

Yemen LNG's operations and deliveries are currently not affected, she said.

"This is a notification of a possible force majeure event because for now production is still ongoing," the spokeswoman said.

Youths in Square of Change to March on Presidential Palace Friday – JMP Spokesman

Sana'a, Mar 22, 2011- The anti-government youth protesters outside Sana’a University in Yemen’s capital, who have been calling for the resignation of President Saleh, plan to march Friday on the presidential palace, a spokesman for the Joint Meeting Parties, the opposition coalition, said on Tuesday.

The army personnel, units and divisions, which have recently joined the youths, will protect the protesters who have been assembling outside the university for more than a month, said Muhammad Qahtan, pointing out that the time for initiatives to address the situation has already passed.

The youths are determined to march on the presidential palace and to continue that whatever the republican guards do to them, he said, days after the massacre at the university in which 52 anti-Saleh protesters were killed and hundreds of others injured.

On Friday, security forces out of uniform and pro-Saleh thugs sniped the protesters from inside and over buildings nearby the square of change outside Sana’a University. The victims, who were named by the government as democracy martyrs, were laid to final rest two days ago.

Qahtan’s remarks come amid escalating protests across Yemen demanding the resignation of Saleh and as blows are continuing to the regime.

Many senior officials including ambassadors and ministers have recently resigned from their posts and from the governing party in protest at the crackdown on the protesters and the deteriorating situation in the country.

Source: Yemen Post

295 Malaysians Arrive Safely From Yemen

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- Two hundred ninety five Malaysians arrived home safely from Sana'a, Yemen at 9.15am Tuesday on flight AY864.

A statement from the National Security Council here said during the evacuation process since March 17, 459 Malaysian citizens have been brought home, including 164 who used commercial flights that were borne by the government.

The process, successfully carried out through collaboration between the council, Foreign Ministry, Higher Education Ministry together with several government agencies, also received assistance from Malaysian Airlines (MAS).

"It was part of the security measures by the government to ensure our people can come out from the conflict zone safely, reflecting the 'the People First, Performance now' aspiration of the government," the statement said.

The political turmoil in Yemen has caused the government to launch the operation to bring back Malaysians from that country.

BERNAMA

More army backup deployed to south Yemen amid looting

SANAA, Mar 22, 2011- More backup army forces were deployed to Yemen's southern port city of Aden on Tuesday after the city witnessed acts of looting geared up by the absence of police forces.
The military forces, including armored vehicles and tanks, stationed since early Tuesday morning at the entrances of all the city's districts and neighborhoods, witnesses told Xinhua.
They said four tourism night clubs were looted and set ablaze overnight after police forces withdrew from the city.
Yemen has apparently reached a turning point after scores of government officials, diplomats, army and security officers have declared their support of pro-reform weeks-long protests since Monday.
Source: (Xinhua)

Two Suspected Al-Qaeda Militants killed and another Wounded in Abyan

By Fatik Al-Rodaini
Sana'a, Mar 22, 2011- At least two suspected Al-Qaeda militants were killed and six other wounded, including five soldiers in Yemen's southern province of Abyan.
Military sources mentioned that clashes erupted when Al-Qaeda militants laid a siege on a military headquarters in Lawder district, trying to control it. Heavy clashes took place in the area resulted in killing two people and wounding six.
Last week three suspected Al-Qaeda militants were killed at a security checkpoint in Yemen's eastern province of Mareb after an exchange of gun fire between security forces and suspected Al-Qaeda fighters in which two soldiers were killed and others wounded.
Analysts said that Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, AQAP, has increased its attacks against Yemen's forces since the rise of protests demanding President Saleh to step down.

Yemen President Warns of Civil War

Sana'a, Mar 22, 2011 -Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has warned military leaders that any attempt at a coup will lead to civil war, after several top commanders defected to the side of opposition protesters.
In a nationally televised address Tuesday, Saleh said any division within the military will have a negative impact on the entire nation.
Yemen's top military figure, Major General Mohsen al-Ahmar, was among the military leaders who defected Monday. Ahmar said he would "support the peaceful revolution" after he deployed thousands of soldiers to protect protesters who have been calling for the president to step down.
A wave of government officials, tribal leaders and diplomats defected after gunmen loyal to the president opened fire on a group of protesters Friday, killing 52 people.
Saleh fired his entire Cabinet Sunday, preempting what one government official said was a planned mass resignation.
Saleh, who has ruled Yemen for 32 years, has offered to hold a dialogue on a new constitution with the opposition and has promised to step down from office at the end of his term in 2013. Activists have rejected those offers, and plan to continue demonstrations until he is gone.
Source: VOA

Yemen opposition says reject Saleh early poll offer

SANAA, Mar 22, 2011- A coalition of Yemeni opposition groups rejected an offer on Tuesday by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, facing protester demands to resign, to leave office after organizing parliamentary elections by January 2012.

"The opposition rejects the offer as the coming hours will be decisive," Mohammed al-Sabry, spokesman for the main umbrella opposition group, told Reuters.

Source: (Reuters)

Bulgaria 'gravely concerned' about deteriorating state of Yemen - Foreign Ministry

Mar 22 2011

By The Sofia Echo staff

Bulgaria is "gravely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Yemen" a Foreign Ministry statement said on March 22, in the wake of anti-government demonstrations over the weekend and the massacre of dozen civilians.

"We demand an immediate cessation of hostilities aimed at the civilian population" the statement read.

Yemen's embattled president Ali Abdullah Saleh has sacked his entire cabinet, according to international media, following the bloodshed over the weekend.

The drastic measures came amid escalating protests demanding his resignation. The announcement by Saleh came after tens of thousands of mourners flooded the streets of the Yemeni capital on March 20 in a mass funeral procession after 52 people were shot dead on March 18 by troops loyal to the government.

The massacre and subsequent sacking of the entire cabinet follows a month-long popular uprising calling for political reform and Saleh's resignation.

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said that the people of Yemen have "lost all faith in their government", that "Saleh has lost his legitimacy on all levels" and that further measures should be implemented through dialogue and not violence.

"The faith of Yemen is down to a national consensus, achieved through a democratic debate. It is imperative that Yemen maintains united and intact, for the sake of the peace in the Arabian Peninsular" the statement said.