US Supports Yemen’s efforts to crack down on al-Houthi rebellion [Archives:2004/771/Front Page]

archive
September 9 2004

The US announced on Sunday, its support for the efforts of Yemen's government, to crack down on the rebellion, led by the fanatic cleric Hussien al-Huthi, in Sa'ada governorate. Thousands have been killed and wounded in the fight that erupted on June 28th. The state-run Saba News agency reported that Commander of the US Central Command, General John AbiZaid, expressed the readiness of his country to support Yemen in its war against terrorism, and acts of bane. AbiZaid paid a short visit to Yemen Sunday and met President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saleh and AbiZaid's talks focused on the bilateral relationship and joint co-operation between the two countries, mainly in the fight against terror. Abizaid “praised Yemen's efforts in combating terrorism”, and said Washington was interested in boosting co-operation between the two countries, Saba added.
The talks follow an announcement by US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Lincoln Bloomfield, during a visit to Sana'a on Wednesday, that Washington has lifted a 14-year ban on the supply of military equipment to Yemen.
The ban on supplying Yemen with weapons or any military equipment, including spare parts, was imposed following Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, at which time Sana'a was perceived as having taken a sympathetic stance toward Baghdad.
Yemeni sources said the US had agreed to a Yemeni request to provide Sana'a with spare parts for F-5 fighters and C-130 transport planes, purchased before north and south Yemen merged into a single state in 1990.
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