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BOMB LINKED TO'MILLENNIUM PLOT'
The attack on USS Cole began with a plan by Osama bin Laden to stage a spectacular three-country attack last January,President Clinton's top terrorism adviser says. Reports:Washington Post,ABC,AP/Dow Jones. Background:Yemen Gateway
MOVE TO DISSOLVE Y.S.P.
The government is threatening to have the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP) dissolved following the election of exiled separatist leaders to the Central Committee. Reports:UPI,Yemen Times
TORTURE REPORT
The annual report by Human Rights Watch said: “There were credible reports of torture in state prisons as well as in private jails and illegal detention facilities” in Yemen. It also noted a deterioration in freedom of expression. Story:Yemen Times. Full text:Human Rights Watch
SAUDI WITHDRAWAL PLAN
Prince Sultan, the Saudi defence minister, said the kingdom's troopswould be withdrawn to agreed points inside the borders within a few months. Report:Yemen Times
YEMEN HOPES FOR SAUDI AID
A meeting of the Yemen-Saudi Coordination Council - the first in more than a decade - is to "study the renewal of Saudi financial aid to Yemen's budget". Reports:Yemen Times,AFP
TRIBE ATTACKS ARMY
Two soldiers were injured in a clash between the Jahm tribe and the army near Marib. Report:Yemen Times
U.S. BAN ON QAT IS FAILING
Qat - popular among Yemenis - is considered a dangerous drug in the United States. But now the legality of the American ban has been called into question by a series of unsuccessful prosecutions.Click herefor full story. Visit Yemen Gateway'sqat page.
NAVAL CHIEF REPLACED
Yemen's naval comander has been replaced after complaining of "endemic corruption". Report:AP
4,000-YEAR-OLD DISCOVERY
French archaeologists have found a huge cemetery dating from the third millennium BC in the Yemeni desert. Report:AFP
HOSTAGE RELEASED
The Swedish man held hostage in Yemen for more than two weeks was released early on November 30, tribal and Swedish sources said. Reports:AFP,Reuters
INVESTIGATORS AGREE
Yemen and the US have reached a deal on how to proceed with the USS Cole investigation. Reports:New York Times,Reuters. Background:Yemen Gateway
GIRL DIES IN STAMPEDE
One girl died and six others, aged between eight and 10, were injured in an apparent stampede at a school in Sana'a. Report:Reuters/Alertnet
BID TO SAVE ZABID CITY
The United Nations World Heritage Committee has added Zabid to its list of endangered cultural sites. The city, renowned for its Islamic university, is said to be "in decline and in a very poor state of conservation". Report:AP
NEW HOSTAGE TALKS FAIL
Fresh attempts to secure the release of a Swedish man kidnapped more than two weeks ago have failed. The kidnappers are said to be demanding compensation for land used by the government in Aden, government jobs for tribe members, scholarships and about $300,000. Report:Reuters/Alertnet
MESSAGE FROM HOSTAGE
Letters from the Swedish man held hostage in Yemen have been published in a newspaper. Reports:Reuters/ABC,AFP
KIDNAP ULTIMATUM EXPIRES
A 24-hour ultimatum to kidnappers has ended without the release of Anders Salenius, a 69-year-old Swede who is diabetic. New talks are planned. Reports:CNN,AFP,Reuters
BIRMINGHAM RAID
British police have raided a shop in Birmingham as part of their hunt for "Abu Abdullah", an Algerian man who is said to have arrived in Britain two years ago from Yemen to recruit volunteers on behalf of Usama bin Laden. Report:Reuters
PARLIAMENT EXTENDSPRESIDENT'S TERM
The Yemeni parliament has agreed to extend the president's term in office from five years to seven. Reports:AP,Reuters
"MORGUE MURDERER"SENTENCED TO DEATH
The Sudanese man accused of killing women in the mortuary at Sana'a University's medical school has been sentenced to death. Reports:Times of India,BBC,Reuters
TALKS ON HOSTAGE
A Swedish diplomat has arrived in Yemen for talks on the kidnapping of a 69-year-old Swede. Reports:Reuters/ABC,Yemen Times
DJIBOUTI PORT DEAL
Dubai Ports Authority has signed an agreement to manage Djibouti port - a rival to Aden - for 20 years. The aim is to increase Djibouti’s handling capacity from 125,000 to 300,000 tones a year. Report:Yemen Times
MILITARY SURROUND KIDNAPPERS
Security forces surrounded al-Majhaza, the village where a 69-year-old Swedish man is being held by Yahya Khamees al-Zayidi, a member of the central committee of the Socialist Party and member of the Jahm tribe. Reports:CNN,Reuters,AFP.Kidnap statistics:Yemen Gateway
YEMEN'S INTERNET CHARGESAMONG HIGHEST IN WORLD
Yemen has only 4,500 internet subscribers and the access charges are among the world's highest. Report:UPI
FIVE DIE IN HELICOPTER CRASH
A Yemeni military helicopter crashed 40 km west of Sana'a, killing two pilots, two airmen and a Jordanian officer. Military sources attributed it to a technical fault. Report:AFP
NEW KIDNAPPING
Nov 17:A source in Yemen says a kidnapping took place in Sana'a on November 13 but has been hushed up in order to facilitate negotiations. The victim was a diabetic Swedish man, aged 69, working for a consultancy firm. He is expected to be released quickly because of his illness. We hope to provide official confirmation or denial shortly.
- Swedish foreign ministry confirms man's disappearance:BBC
- Kidnap statistics:Yemen Gateway
NO NEWS ... GOOD NEWS
Nov 15:No foreigners have been taken hostage in Yemen for five months - the longest period without a kidnapping since 1996. Report:Yemen Gateway
BACKING FORSEVEN-YEAR TERM
Parliament has rejected an offer by President Salih to abandon plans to extend his term in office to seven years. Report:Yemen Times
GRENADE KILLS TWO
Two people were killed and five injured in a grenade explosion in the salt market of Sana'a's old city. It was the second grenade incident in the market in little more than a year. Reports:Yemen Times,Reuters
USS COLE BOMBED IN ADEN HARBOUR
See Yemen Gateway'sspecial report
BOMB HITS BRITISH EMBASSY
A bomb exploded at the British embassy in Sana'a early on October 13. It had apparently been thrown over a wall into the compound. The embassy reported "considerable damage" but no casualties. Report:Yemen Gateway
MINISTER PRESSES BRITONS' CASE
British minister Keith Vaz, visiting Yemen, said he had discussed with President Salih the case of seven Britons jailed in Yemen on terrorism charges (see special report). Story:Reuters.Early release likely:The Guardian
YEMENI PLANE LANDS IN IRAQ
A Yemeni plane carrying two ministers and humanitarian aid landed in Baghdad. The flight was approved by the UN sanctions committee but was delayed when Saudi Arabia objected to the plane flying over its territory. Among the 50 people on board were Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister Abd al-Qader Bajammal and Information Minister Abd al-Rahman al-Akwaa.Reports:BBC,Reuters,AP
BRITISH MINISTER IN YEMEN
Keith Vaz, British Minister for State of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, is visiting Yemen to discuss ways of improving relations between the two countries. Relations deteriorated following the killing of three kidnapped British tourists at the end of 1998, and the arrest and imprisonment of 10 young men from Britain on bomb plot charges (see special report). Mr Vaz is likely to discuss the issue of the jailed men. Report:Yemen Times. Early release likely:The Guardian
RIFT VALLEY FEVER:DEATH TOLL TOPS 120
More than 120 people have so far died in the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever which has hit north-western Yemen. There have been other deaths across the border in Saudi Arabia. The disease, which until now has been confined to Africa, normally affects animals but can be transferred to humans by mosquitoes.
SALAFIS FALL OUT
Three people were seriously injured in clashes between rival sections of the Salafi movement at a mosque in Little Aden. Report:Yemen Times
OIL EXPERTS "NOT ARRESTED"
Seven oil experts who went missing in eastern Yemen (see news item below) had strayed over the Saudi border, but were not arrested, the Saudi news agency said. Report:Middle East Wire
QADHAFI VISIT POSTPONED
Yemen said the Libyan leader, Colonel Qadhafi, has postponed the visit he was planning to make to Sana'a. Report:ArabicNews
SOCIALIST PARTY IN TROUBLE
The Yemen Socialist Party is threatened with dissolution following the election of separatist leaders to the Central Committee. Reports:AFP,Yemen Times
OIL EXPERTS DISAPPEAR IN DESERT
Seven oil experts, including including Americans and Australians, have gone missing in eastern Yemen where they were working near the Saudi border. Yemeni army helicopters have been searching the area, but there are suggestions they may have been arrested by the Saudis. Report:AP/CNN
VILLAGE GUN BATTLE
Two soldiers are said to have died in a battle between security forces and villagers near Dhali'. No details yet.
SALIH TO VISIT FRANCE
President Salih is due to make a working visit to France on October 19, which will include a meeting with President Jacques Chirac. Report:ArabicNews
ARCHAEOLOGISTS DIG AGAIN
A French-Italian archaeological team resumed work under police protection, a few days after tribal protests halted the excavations. Report:AFP
EARLY RELEASE LIKELYFOR JAILED BRITONS
Yemen is planning an early release for five young Britons jailed on terrorism charges. The move follows a meeting between foreign secretary Robin Cook and President Ali Abdullah Salih in London. It is thought the Britons could be released early next year to mark a special occasion, such as 'Eid al-Adha (March 6) or Yemen's National Day (May 22).Report:The Guardian. Background:Yemen Gateway
TRIBE HALTS DIG
A French-Italian archaeological team had to stop excavations following pressure from a tribe in the Bayhan region. Report:AFP
QADHAFI TO VISIT YEMEN
Colonel Muammar Qadhafi of Libya is to visit Yemen next week for the 38th anniversary of the republican revolution on September 26. Report:CNN/Reuters
BORDER COMMITTEE MEETS
The Yemeni-Saudi committee set up to complete demarcation of the border has held its first meeting. Report:Middle East On Line
MYSTERY ILLNESS IN BORDER AREA
About 30 people have died from a mysterious illness - believed to be spread by mosquitos - in Saudi Arabia, close to the Yemeni border. Report:BBC[Note: the disease has since been identified as Rift Valley Fever]
"TOO MANY" FOREIGN WORKERS
The Yemeni government employs 17,264 foreign workers, and the private sector 65,000, the general manager of the civil service said. He suggested that they should be replaced by Yemenis. Report:ArabicNews
SALIH IN CUBA
President Salih has ended a three-day visit to Cuba during which the two countries discussed economic relations. Report:ArabicNews
SHEBA'S TEMPLE YIELDS ITS SECRETS
A Canadian archeological team is gradually unravelling the secrets of the 3,000-year-old Temple of Bilqis at Ma'rib, using high-technology equipment. Professor Bill Glanzman of the University of Calgary said the temple, which is associated with the Queen of Sheba, "has the potential to become a world-class tourist site." Reports:Reuters,Canoe,AFP,ABC
DIRECTOR DEFENDS "RULES OF ENGAGEMENT"
William Friedkin, director ofRules of Engagement, which is set in Yemen and has been described as "probably the most racist film ever made against Arabs by Hollywood", has defended his production. "Everything in the film, every incident, including the attack on the embassy in Yemen, has a basis in reality," he said. Report:AFP. Review:Yemen Gateway
FAMILY DIE AS WALL COLLAPSES
Seven members of a family died a concrete wall collapsed on top of their shack in Aden. Report:Reuters/CNN
LAND MINE AT TAX OFFICE
Police in Sanaa defused a land mine placed in front of a tax office. Meanwhile, three men have been jailed for 15 years for kidnapping foreigners. Report:ArabicNews
NASSER "WAS YEMENI"
The late Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdul Nasser, was of Yemeni origin and belonged to the Bani Murr tribe, a historian has claimed. Report:ArabicNews
SALIH IN BRITAIN AND US
President Salih made a brief visit to London on September 4 before travelling on to the United States. He met Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and members of theBritish-Yemeni Society. Report:SABA
SOCIALISTS CALL FOR RETURN
OF AL-BAID
The Yemen Socialist party, at its fourth general congress, called for the return of former vice-president Ali Salim al-Baid and others who led the 1994 war of secession. Report:Yemen Times.
ILLEGAL HEALTH TRADE
A survey has found that 214 out of 286 clinics and 211 out of 434 pharmacies in Yemen are operating illegally. In addition, supplies of smuggled and expired medicines pose a threat to health. Report:Yemen Times
TRIBE ATTACKS PUMPING STATION
Members of the Zayidi tribe attacked an oil pumping station number in the Serwah area of Marib with rocket-propelled grenades and bazookas. Report:Yemen Times
MOVE TO POSTPONE ELECTIONS
Next year's general election will be postponed until 2003 under a series of constitutional amendments presented to parliament. Under the plan, parliamentary elections will be held every six years, instead of four as at present. The Shura Council (upper house) will be expanded to include elected members. Report:Yemen Times. Election system "flawed":National Democratic Institute. Details of constitutional amendments:Yemen Gateway. Yemeni reactions:Yemen Times
SOCIALIST LEADERS ARRESTED
Five leaders of the Yemen Socialist Party, preparing for their fourth general congress, were briefly detaining in Aden for " meeting without a permit". Reports:Yemen Times,AP. Party congress:Yemen Times
SAUDI PRINCESS INVESTS $100m
A company owned by Princess Noora Bint Saud is investing up to $100 million in various projects in Yemen. Report:Yemen Times
PRESIDENT IN SOMALIA
President Salih visited Somalia for the inauguration of the country's first president in almost 10 years. Reports:Yemen Times,AP
BOMB INJURES SOLDIERS
Four soldiers were injured while trying to defuse a bomb near the offices of a Ba'ath party newspaper. Report:Reuters
HOLLYWOOD'S MASSACRE IN YEMEN
Rules of Engagement, set in Yemen and described as "probably the most racist film ever made against Arabs by Hollywood", opened in British cinemas on August 11.Report:Arab Media. Review:Yemen Gateway
PRINCE WINS AGAIN
"Prince" Naseem Hamed, the Yemeni-British featherweight, retained his world title, knocking out American challenger Augie Sanchez in the fourth round. Report:AFP. Naseem'swebsite.
TWO NEW HOSPITALS
ASaudi-German group to is to build a 400-bed hospital in Sana'a and a 200-bed hospital in Aden, at a cost of $100 million. Report:Reuters
ELECTION SYSTEM "FLAWED"
Yemen's voter registration process is fundamentally flawed, according to the National Democratic Institute. In a report on preparations for the 2001 parliamentary election, the Washington-based organisation calls for " a more modern system to meet current and future requirements". Report:National Democratic Institute
BORDER MEETING
President Saleh met the Saudi interior minister for talks on border co-operation. Report:Reuters
PORNOGRAPHY CRACKDOWN
Security forces are cracking down on hotels using satellite dishes to offer guests the ability to watch pornographic films. Report:AFP
YEMEN DENIES ISRAELI VISIT
Yemen has dismissed as "baseless" an Israeli newspaper report that Prime Minister Ehud Barak's top security adviser, Danny Yatom, secretly visited Yemen recently. Report:Reuters
OFFICIAL SHOT DEAD
The assistant deputy governor of Sana'a province was shot dead, and several others were injured, when gunmen opened fire on his car. Report:Reuters
FAMILY SUE UNIVERSITY
The family of an Iraqi student allegedly murdered by a mortuary worker at Sana'a Medical School are to sue the university. Report:Reuters
LIGHTNING STRIKE
A man died and three people were injured when lightning struck in Dhamar province. Report:Reuters
KIDNAP SUSPECTS ARRESTED
Seven people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in kidnapping foreigners. Report:Reuters
JAIL FOUND AT UNIVERSITY
A private prison - one of a number in Yemen - has been discovered at Sana'a university. Report:Yemen Times
BORDER TIMETABLE AGREED
Yemen and Saudi Arabia have agreed a timetable and practical steps to implement their border agreement. Report:Reuters,Gulf News
BANK PRIVATISATION
The government is to sell 80% of the National Bank of Yemen as part of a privatisation plan - 60% to a potential strategic investor and 20% to the public. Report:Reuters
NEW OIL EXPLORATION
Yemen is to invite foreign firms to explore for oil and gas in new areas as a result of the border treaty with Saudi Arabia. Report:Financial Times/Reuters
MILITARY SPENDING CUTS
Yemen is to reduce military spending (currently more than 32% of the state budget) as a result of the border agreement with Saudi Arabia. Report:Reuters
BRITISH TEENAGER SHOT DEAD
A 16-year-old youth from London, Hosea Walker, was been shot dead at an Islamic studies centre in Sa'ada. Reports:BBC,Ananova,AFP,Reuters,The Times
MINISTER ATTACKS BLASPHEMY CASE
The information minister has criticised the blasphemy trial of a journalist, saying it has damaged Yemen's image. Report:Reuters
FOREIGN DEBT INCREASES
Yemen's foreign debt reached nearly $6.14 billion dollars at the end of 1999. The cost of debt servicing has been reduced from 44.2% of GDP in 1995 to 10.5% in 1999, it is increasing again. Report:ArabicNews
TELEPHONE TALKS
Yemen is holding talks with an international firm to expand the telephone system. It aims for one million phone lines by 2005. Report:Reuters
"INTELLECTUAL TERRORISM" CONDEMNED
Yemeni writers and journalists have condemned as "intellectual terrorism" a campaign against a journalist who is being tried on blasphemy charges. Report:AFP
NEW OIL FIND IN HADRAMAUT
A British company says it has found new oil reserves in Block 53, Hadramaut. Report:Reuters
EMIR OF QATAR TO VISIT
The Emir of Qatar is expected to visit to Yemen in the first half of August for talks with President Salih. Report:ArabicNews
GOVERNMENT PAY RISES
The cabinet has approved pay rises of 40% for the military and 10% for civil servants. Report:Reuters
WTO TALKS START SOON
Discussion of Yemen's application to join the World Trade Organisation is expected to start later this month. Report:Reuters
.../headlines for January-June 2000
.../headlines from previous years
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