EMERGENCY LANDING
An Emirates airliner made an emergency landing in Aden, apparently with engine trouble. Reports that the plane had been hijacked were denied. Report:AFP/Zawya

"AL-QAEDA" SUSPECTS NAMED
Two of the men being hunted as suspected members of Bin Laden's network have been named as Ali Qaide Sanian, alias Abu Ali Al-Harthy, and Mohammad Hamdi al-Ahdal. A third man - not named - is thought to be Egyptian. Reports:AFP,Reuters/Zawya

KIDNAP SENTENCES
Four Yemenis convicted of kidnapping a German businessman have been sentenced to jail terms of between 20 and 25 years. Three of those sentenced are still on the run. A fith man was acquitted. Reports:Yemen Times,Reuters,AFP/Zawya

AL-QA'EDA HUNT MOVES TO MARIB
At least 17 people were reported dead in a battle between Yemeni forces and tribesmen in al-Hosun village, Marib province. The authorities were attempting to arrest suspected members of Usama bin Laden's al-Qa'eda network.

• Yemen pursues hunt for bin Laden fighters:AFP/Zawya
• Yemen praised after al-Qaeda operation:BBC
• Yemen attacks al-Qaida:The Guardian
• Violence dominates lawless province:The Guardian
• Yemeni soldiers storm 'al-Qaeda base':The Times

U.K. RELAXES TRAVEL WARNING
The British Foreign Office has relaxed its strong warning against travel to Yemen. The revised guidance note, issued on December 11, says: "The present situation makes it inadvisable for those unfamiliar with Yemen, and without contacts such as family or friends in the country, to pay first time visits."Report:Yemen Times. Full text of advice:Foreign Office

KIDNAP TRIAL STARTS
Five Yemenis have gone on trial accused of kidnapping a 50-year-old German, Carl Lehrner. Report:CNN/Reuters

COLE BOMB SUSPECT HAD BEENARRESTED THEN RELEASED
Hassan Said Awadh Khemeri, believed to be one of two suicide bombers who attacked USS Cole last year, was among 16 Islamists arrested and later released in connection with a plot to kidnap Americans working at a Baptist hospital in Jiblah in 1999. The would-be kidnappers had intended to demand the release of Abu al-Hassan al-Mihdar, leader of the Islamic Army of Aden-Abyan. Report:New York Times. Background on USS Cole:Yemen Gateway

CAR EXPLODES
Two (possibly three) people were killed in Sana'a when hand grenades in their car exploded. Reports:
CNN/Reuters,BBC,iwon

GENERAL DIES IN AMBUSH
Brigadier-General Ali Qaed Al-Muaker, former chief of staff for eastern Yemen, was shot dead in an ambush while visiting his home village, Gahef, in Dali' province. Report:AFP/Zawya

HOSTAGE FREED
A 50-year-old German businessman who was held hostage for nine days has been freed. Officials said one of his kidnappers had been arrested. Reports:BBC,CNN

BAN ON INDIVIDUAL TOURISTS
Yemen has suspended the issuing of visas to individual tourists for a three-month period, the foreign ministry told the French news agency, AFP. During this period visas will be granted only to tourists in organised groups. The move is intended to stop "extremists" slipping into the country as tourists. Report:AFP/Zawya

GERMAN KIDNAPPED
As President Salih began a visit to Germany, gunmen in Sana'a kidnapped an unidentified German man. The kidnappers, believed to be from the Bani Dhabyan tribe, took their hostage in the centre of the capital around midnight on November 28-29. Reports:AFP/Zawya,Reuters. Kidnaps in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

YEMEN "NOT A TARGET"
The British embassy in Sana'a denied a report in theSunday Timesthat Yemen is a target in the "war on terrorism". A statement said the British government "refuses the idea that targeting Yemen is acceptable or justifiable at all ... The British government view is that Yemen is not a supporter of terrorism but a victim of it." Report:AFP/Zawya

BLASTS IN SHABWA
Two explosions occurred in Shabwa province on the night of November 27-28. The first blast was near the headquarters of the opposition Islah party, the second explosion near the home of the provincial governor. No casualties were reported. Report:Reuters/Zawya

BUDGET DEFICIT
Yemen's national budget for 2002 predicts a deficit of $ 298.2 million. It has been approved by the cabinet and will be submitted to parliament in December. Reports:AP/Zawya,AFP

SALIH MEETS BUSH
In a meeting at the White House on November 27, President Salih assured President Bush that Yemen is a partner of the United States in the "war on terrorism". Reports suggest that the talks, which appear to have been cordial, will result in financial help from the US to strengthen security in Yemen. An earlier report in the Sunday Times said that the US and Britain are planning military strikes in Yemen.

• Yemen hears benefits of joining US fight -Washington Post
• Yemen, US increase antiterrorism cooperation -CNN
• Yemen "a partner" in the war on terrorism: Saleh -AFP/Zawya
• Bush, Yemen leader discuss terror war -AP/Zawya
• US targets three more countries -Sunday Times
• British sources disclosed Yemen, Sudan, Somalia as next targets to US-British strikes -ArabicNews

FOUR DIE IN HONEY BATTLE
Four people died and two were injured in a clash between Yemeni soldiers and men in a truck carrying honey. Police said the incident, in Hays, near Mukha, occurred when the driver, who was suspected of carrying smuggled goods, refused to stop. Report:CNN/AP

SALIH HEADS FOR U.S.
President Salih set off on a tour of four countries, including the United States, where he is expected to sign a security agreement. Report:BBC

CREDIT IN WASHINGTON
Ahead of President Salih's visit to the US, Yemen has been trying to impress the Americans with its security measures. Report:Middle East International

EXPLOSION IN ADEN
A bomb damaged a government building in Aden on November 24. There were no injuries but several people were arrested. Report:UPI/Zawya

NEW ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
President Salih issued a decree appointing a new committee to oversee elections. Four of the seven seats are for members of the ruling General People's Congress. Report:AFP

HONEY & MONEY FIRM CLOSES
Al-Barakat Exchanger and Honey Stores has closed down in Sana'a after assets of the main branches in Dubai, the US and Europe were frozen as an anti-terrorism measure. Reports:Yemen Observer/Zawya,Yemen Times

YEMENI SUSPECT
The FBI is looking for a Yemeni man who, it believes, was intended to take part in the September 11 hijackings but failed to get a US visa. Reports:Reuters,AP/Zawya

POLICE SEIZE SCHOOL
A Qur'anic school in Aden, run by al-Baihani charity, was raided by police and closed for "teaching Islamic extremism". Report:AFP/Zawya

DEATH FOR "BANDITS"
Four Yemeni "bandits" have been sentenced to death for murder and armed robbery. Three others were jailed and two more will have an arm and a leg amputated. Report:AFP

OIL REFINERY UPGRADE
The prime minister announced a $250 million upgrade to the Aden oil refinery, which was built in the 1950s. It will be funded by the public and private sectors. Report:Reuters/Zawya

YEMEN STOPS AIRPORT VISAS
As a security measure, Yemen has stopped issuing visas to European and American visitors on arrival at Sana'a airport. For the next three months they will have to obtain visas in advance from Yemeni embassies and consulates. Reports:Yemen Observer/Zawy,Yemen Times,AFP,Reuters

FRENCH FILM MAKER EXPELLED
A French documentary film-maker who entered Yemen on a tourist visa was ordered to leave the country after meeting a cousin of Usama bin Laden. Report:AFP/Zawya

SALIH TO MEET BUSH
President Ali Abdullah Salih will travel to Washington to meet US president George Bush on November 27. Reports:AP,AFP

THREE EXECUTED
Three Yemeni men convicted of murder were executed on October 31 in different parts of the country. Report:AFP/Zawya. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

COLE SUSPECT ARRESTED
Pakistani authorities have arrested a 27-year-old Yemeni who was wanted in connection with the bombing of USS Cole. He has been handed over to the United States. Reports:UPI,AP

"HONEY MONEY" ARRESTS
Two men were been arrested in the US on charges of smuggling $140,763 in seven boxes of honey destined for Yemen. The US says honey has been used by Usama bin Laden's network for smuggling cash and drugs. No connection to bin Laden has been established in this case, but the authorities seem to have uncovered a regular cash smuggling racket. Reports:MSNBC,AP/Zawya.Bee-keeping in Yemenby Julian Lush, British-Yemeni Society.

21 EXTRADITED TO SAUDI
Yemen has extradited to Saudi Arabia 21 suspected terrorists who had taken shelter with Yemeni tribes, according to al-Watan daily. Report:AFP

PROTEST MARCH
More than 30,000 Yemenis, some of them armed, protested in Amran on October 20 against the bombing of Afghanistan. Report:Yemen Times

YEMEN ANTHRAX SCARE
Two letters containing white powder are being tested for anthrax. One was received from Cananda by a man in Yemen and the other arrived at the Yemeni embassy in Belgium. Reports:AFP,Reuters/Zawya,Yemen Times

ANOTHER BIN BOMB
A bomb exploded in a rubbish bin near the central police station in Lahij. It was Yemen's third bin bomb in the space of a week. Report:AP/Zawya

BIN LADEN'S HONEY POT
The US has frozen the assets of two honey businesses in Yemen which it says are used by Usama bin Laden for smuggling. The companies are Al-Shifa Honey Press for Industry and Commerce, and Al-Nur Honey Press Shops, plus a third Yemeni business, Al-Hamati Sweets Bakeries. Personal assets of Muhammad al-Hamati, owner of Al-Hamati Sweets and Al-Nur Honey, have also been frozen. Report:BBC. Al-Shifa denies Bin Laden links:Yemen Times. Honey merchants deny terror links:AFP

CHINESE HOSTAGE RELEASED
Mao Ding, a 35-year-old Chinese accountant who had been held by the Nihm tribe since September was released on October 18, the Chinese embassy said. Reports:Xinhua,AP,Reuters,AFP

TWO BOMBS IN ADEN
Two bombs exploded in rubbish bins in Aden on the anniversary of the socialist revolution against the British. Reports:AFP (1),AFP (2)

BIN LADEN'S FATHER-IN-LAWARRESTED IN YEMEN
Authorities in Ibb have arrested Hamad abd al-Fatah al-Sadah, father-in-law of Osama bin Laden, as part of a crackdown on Islamic militants and Afghan war veterans. Report:People's Daily

NEW SUSPECT IN COLE CASE
A Yemen man deported from East Africa last August has been arrested in Aden and may be added to the main suspects in the USS Cole bombing case. Report:CBS/AP. Background on Cole bombing:Yemen Gateway

EIGHT EXECUTED
Eight men were executed for murder on October 10, bringing the total executions this year to 73. Report:AFP/Zawya. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

COURT CUTS EMBASSY BOMB SENTENCES
An appeal court in has reduced the prison sentences of four men convicted on bombing the British Embassy last October. Report:Ananova

SALIH: KIDNAPPING IS TERRORISM
President Salih asked parliament to pass a resolution declaring that kidnapping is a "terrorist act". Reports:Yemen Times,CNN/Reuters.Details of kidnappings since 1996:Yemen Gateway

TEN DIE IN TRIBAL CLASHES
Ten people were killed and 32 others injured in clashes between the tribes of Al-Jeda'an and Jahm in Marib, over a land dispute. Report:Yemen Times

KIDNAP: FOUR ARRESTED
Police arrested four suspects in connection with the kidnapping of Mao Ding, a Chinese accountant. It was reported that the kidnappers were from the Nihm tribe and their leader, a former army colonel was demanding that the authorities cancel his retirement, return his car, and employ 20 of tribesmen in the special Guards Army. Report:Yemen Times

CHINESE KIDNAPPED
A Chinese man working for a construction company was kidnapped on September 23 while taking a morning stroll near his home, Chinese embassy officials and tribal sources said. The man has not been named and the embassy has so far received no demands from the kidnappers. Report:AP/Zawya

GERMAN RELEASED
The longest-running kidnap for several years ended on September 24 with the release of Rainer Berns, the commercial attache at the German Embassy in Sana'a. Mr Berns was kidnapped in the capital on July 27. Reports:Yemen Times,Canadian Press,AP,AFP,Reuters. Details of kidnappings since 1996:Yemen Gateway

SHIPS SEIZED IN ADEN
Yemeni authorities seized two ships carrying about 116 Sri Lankan men. Officials said the vessels, flying Ukrainian and Sri Lankan flags, entered Aden port illegally. Reports:CNN/Reuters,AP,Reuters(update)

COLE INVESTIGATION RESUMES
FBI agents returned to Yemen to resume their investigation into the bombing of the USS Cole. The agents left Yemen in June after intelligence reports warned they had been targeted for attack. Reports:Washington Post,Yemen Times

TWENTY JUDGES SACKED
Yemen's supreme court dismissed 20 judges as part of an anti-corruption drive. A further 108 are being retired. Reports:AFP/Zawya,Yemen Times

EXECUTIONS RECORD
At least sixteen people have been executed for murder so far during August - the highest monthly total since Yemen began its official disclosure of executions. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

DIPLOMAT 'HELD BY JIHAD'
A Yemen Times correspondent in Marib says the kidnappers of the German diplomat who has been held since July 27 were members of Islamic Jihad, plus two men from the Jahm tribe. According to the reporter, the kidnappers have confirmed that they are seeking a $1 million ransom and the release of Islamic militants held on suspicion of involvement in the bombing of USS Cole last October. Tribe demands $30,000:AFP

TWENTY DIE IN BUS CRASH
Twenty people, among them five children, died when a truck crashed into a bus in the Hodeidah province. Reports:AFP/Zawya,Xinhua

ELECTORAL TALKS UNDER WAY
Dialogue between the government and opposition parties on amending election laws resumed on August 15 after a three-week freeze. An official source said two committees would be set up, one political and the other judicial, to work on the plans. Report:AFP/Zawya

FOREIGN DEBT FALLS
Yemen's foreign debt fell to $ 4.8 billion dollars in the first quarter of this year ( down 2% from December 2000), the central bank reported. Inflation during the same period fell from 8.5% to 7.3%. Report:AFP/Zawya

THREE MORE EXECUTED
Three Yemenis were executed for separate murders on August 15, bringing the total of reported executions this year to 48. Report:AP.Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

SEVENTEEN DROWNED
A total of 17 people have drowned in rough seas "while doing sports" off Aden province during recent storms, police said. Report:AFP/Zawya

ELECTORAL TALKS RESUME
Seven opposition parties who broke off talks with the government about changes to the elections law, have decided to resume their dialogue. They were protesting at the recent rise in diesel prices. The Islah party said the change of mind was aimed at "rescuing the electoral process in Yemen". Report:AFP

THREE MORE EXECUTIONS
Three more Yemenis have been executed for murder, bringing the total of executions reported so far this year to 45. Source: AP, Aug 7. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

LETTER FROM HOSTAGE
The diplomat kidnapped on July 27 has sent a handwritten letter to Yemen's interior minister. According to officials, 55-year-old Rainer Berns, a commercial attache at the German embassy, said he was in good health but required some medical attention. Reports:AFP,Reuters. Kidnap statistics:Yemen Gateway.

JORDAN-YEMEN ROAD PLAN
Saudi Arabia plans to start work shortly on an international expressway running through the kingdom to link Jordan with Yemen. Report:Arab News

FLOODS TOLL RISES TO 33
About 30 houses were damaged in Hajah province, where floods claimed 11 lives in the space of two days. By August 5 the death toll in recent heavy rains had reached 33. Report:Reuters

MORE EXECUTIONS
Two Yemeni men were executed by firing squad in Sana'a on July 30 for their roles in separate murders, the state prosecutor said. This brought the total of executions reported so far this year to 42. Report:AP/Zawya. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

20 DIE IN STORMS
Recent floods and thunderstorms have killed at least 20 people. Officials said 14 died in floods in the provinces of Hadramaut, Dhamar, Ibb, Sa'ada and Amran, and six were killed by lightning in Amran province. Reports:AFP,Reuters

EXECUTION NUMBER 40
A convicted murderer was executed in al-Bayda province on July 29. It was the eighth execution in Yemen in the space of one week, and the 40th so far this year. Report:AP. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

DIPLOMAT KIDNAPPED
Armed tribesmen kidnapped a German diplomat in Sana'a on July 27. A security official said the man was in a car with his wife and the gunmen took him but left his wife behind. The German foreign ministry said he works in the economic section of the embassy. Reports:Yemen Times,AP,CNN/Reuters,AFP. Kidnap statistics:Yemen Gateway.

FOUR EXECUTED
Four Yemeni men were executed by firing squad on July 25 for separate murders: two in Ibb, one in Aden and one in Saada. This brings the total of executions reported so far this year to 39. Report:AP/Zawya. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

SHIP BLAZE
A ship carrying charcoal from Somalia to the Gulf Arab caught fire near Socotra. Report:Reuters/Zawya

DIESEL PRICES UP
Yemen is bracing itself for trouble after raising the price of diesel fuel by 70% to 17 riyals (10 US cents) a litre. The increase is part of the IMF-back reforms which aim to remove government subsidies on basic goods. The subsidy on diesel was costing the treasury 3.5 billion riyals a month, according to officials. Previous rises in the price of fuel have led to riots. Reports:Yemen Times,Reuters

BOMB TRIAL: FOUR JAILED
Four men accused of bombing the British embassy in Sana'a last October have been jailed for up to 15 years. Abu Bakr Saeed Jayoul, 38, and Ahmad Massoud Mushrif, 23, were each sentenced to 15 years. Salem Salam Jahil was jailed for six years and Fares Saleh Daher, 18, for four years. All four are expected to be moved to Aden, where they face a further trial in connection with New Year attacks on a church, a hotel and the SABA news agency.Reports:BBC,AFP,Reuters,AP/CNN
Bizarre claims:Middle East International

THREE EXECUTED
Three Yemeni men were executed for separate murders, bringing the total of executions reported so far this year to 35. Report:AP/Zawya. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

OIL SEARCH IN BORDER AREA
Yemen has signed a deal with a group of western companies to explore for oil in a new area (Block 60, Hadramaut) which became available as a result of the border agreement with Saudi Arabia, a Yemeni official said. Report:Reuters/Zawya

EXECUTION NUMBER 32
A Yemeni man convicted of murder was executed in public by firing squad Hadramawt. It was the 32nd reported execution in Yemen this year. Report:AP/Zawya. Executions in Yemen:Yemen Gateway

EXPLOSION NEAR EMBASSY
A loud explosion - believed to have been caused by a stun grenade - was heard near the US embassy in Sana'a. No casualties were reported. The embassy said later that the explosion was part of a"private land usage dispute" and was not directed at the embassy or its staff.Latest:CNN/AP.Earlier report:Reuters

CHECK-UP FOR SALIH
President Salih unexpectedly flew to Germany for a medical check-up after complaining of tiredness. Results of tests were described as good. Reports:BBC,AP

ACCUSATIONS OVER MARIB BATTLE
The ruling General People's Congress and the opposition Islah party accused each other of involvement in armed clashes over the Marib oil pipeline which left 11 people dead. Report:AFP/Zawya

EMBASSY BOMB TRIAL ENDS
The trial of four men accused of bombing the British embassy in Sana'a last October has ended. A verdict is expected on July 16. Reports:AP,AFP

BACK TO NORMAL
The US embassy in Sana'a resumed consular services after a four-week suspension due to security fears. Report:CNN/AP

"ELEVEN DEAD" IN PIPELINE BATTLE
Eleven people were reported killed and 18 wounded in a fighting between soldiers and tribesmen in Marib province. Sources said the tribe had ambushed security forces who had been sent to arrest people suspected of blowing a hole in the main oil pipeline on June 28, causing a spill of 10,000 barrels. Reports:Reuters,AP,AFP

.../headlines for January-June 2001

.../headlines from previous years