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 BEEN ARRESTED 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 the Sunday
Times that 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 Yemen
by 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-LAW ARRESTED 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