Army can’t nab terrorist suspect during siege [Archives:2002/22/Front Page]

A suspected terrorist remains free after Yemeni military couldn’t take him in during an attempted siege of his home.
The heavy clashes took place in Sarwah area, 150 km east of Sana’a on May 20 between soldiers from Yemen’s Army Brigade 25 and Mohammed Ali al-Zaidi who is suspected to be a member of al-Qaeda network and who is believed to have masterminded the kidnapping of a German diplomat in September 2001.
The armed confrontation began at 10 a.m. when the brigade’s men tried to storm al-Zaidi’s house using tanks and armored vehicles. Al-Zaidi was supported by his family members and some tribesmen armed with anti-tank bazooka rockets during the two-hour clash.
While the army failed to capture al-Zaidi, he and his men captured the commander of the army brigade.
Tribal sources said that the military forces did, however, seize two relatives of al-Zaidi before they were released.
“The incentives behind such detention is that my house and a petrol station is under threat of an attack,” the commander of the army brigade stated.
In a statement to the Yemen Times, al-Zaidi said that the brigade tried to surround his house before a shower of bullets came down.
Al-Zaidi denied that he has links with the latest bombing incidents involving al-Qaeda Sympathizers.
Army Brigade 25 detained Ali Mobarak Feras last month.
The authorities say that Ali Mobarak is an al-Qaeda suspect, and he remains in jail.
New plans for security
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Dr. Rashed Al-Alimi said last week that Yemen is undertaking a comprehensive security and military plan.
That includes a plan over four years for the building up of marine patrol police (MPP), and also beefing up security in Marib, Shabwa, and al-Jawf, where suspected al-Qaeda elements are believed to be hiding
The minister said an central command room, based on highly technological devices like computers and monitoring camera is being built now.
Al-Alimi said in press statement that such a central facility in Sana’a and other main governorates will make it easier to monitor safety in the country.
Yemen has a long open coastline stretching 2,400km that has to be monitored so to prevent the flow of criminals, drugs and goods.
President Saleh issued a republican decree last Tuesday appointing Ali Ahmed Rasie chief of MPP and Saleh Ali Mujali as his deputy.
Yemen will need about 200 boats with night watch cameras.
The USA is supporting this initiative to stop the flow of al-Qaeda members to Yemen.
Holland, Germany, Britain and Saudi Arabia will also help in the effort.
He pointed out the plan has been approved by the supreme national council and will be implemented during the next six months.
The minister said al-Qaeda sympathizers group which claimed responsibility for last explosions in Sana’a and other places, might be phantom. The explosions targeted intelligence officials and building offices.
He said the group’s statement might aim to give the impression of poor security in Yemen. However, he said the threats are being dealt with very seriously as there are people who want to sabotage security.
The Sympathizers of al-Qaeda are demanding the release of 173 elements of al-Qaeda being detained the intelligence prison. In their last statement, they pledged that Yemen should expect a surprise and a big slap for agents of the USA meaning intelligence officials.
 

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