Al-Usboo [Archives:2003/692/Press Review]

4 Dec. 2003
Main headlines:
– Engagements with 20 military groups as a because of dispute between Amran cement factory and citizens
– Ibb intelligence director killed, Shabwa governor wounded in Baidha
– WB & IMF threaten government of halting loans and aid
– Indicators of openness in Eman University urge a professor to resign

The newspaper's leading story says there are high-level consultations going on between Yemen and Saudi Arabia to heal the tension that affected lately the two countries relations in the wake of media reports based on American intelligence source claiming that weapons sold to Yemen were found with terrorist groups involved in recent Riyadh operations. The source did not identify himself but observers have said that the U.S would try to fish in troubled waters between the two countries. They stressed it was not for the two countries' interest to expand their differences.
Yemeni statements have strongly refuted what had been mentioned by the American intelligence source while some press sources mentioned that Saudi Arabia was behind leaking of news of this kind but no Saudi official comment has been issued so far. Yemen had earlier halted the handing over of 15 Saudi nationals to the Saudi authorities just one hour before the sides ending the process of exchanging the wanted. In response to Riyadh leaks on seizing Yemeni weapons with Saudi groups, press information from unidentified sources mentioned that it was a kind of pressure on the Saudi part to push Yemen hand over the wanted Saudis.
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