Yemen wants extradition Interrogations shed some light [Archives:2002/49/Front Page]

While under interrogation recently, several Yemeni linked to al-Qaeda continue to shed light on terrorist attacks, while others are being pulled in different directions by officials from Yemen and the United States who both want more information.
On Thursday, Yemen asked the US to hand over Abd-al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a suspected al Qaeda leader wanted in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole off the coast of the Arab state, an official newspaper said Thursday.
A Yemeni extradition request said al Rahim is also wanted for questioning about other “terrorist” operations in Yemen, according to the September 26 weekly newspaper.
Washington said last week it was holding Nashiri, identified as the Gulf chief of al Qaeda, the militant Islamic network headed by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden.
Nashiri is suspected of having planned the USS Cole attack.
Meanwhile, Yemen security sources have told the Yemen Times that officials have gained useful information that may lead to arrest Mohammed al-Ahdal, also known as Abu Asem.
It’s believed Al-Hadal is the prime suspect in financing the USS Cole bombing which killed 17 US sailors were killed.
More recently, it’s also believed he was involved in exploding the French oil supertanker Limburg, Oct. 6, near Hadhramout.
Also this week,Yemeni investigators went to Kuwait to question Mohsen al-Fadhli, identified as a senior al Qaeda operative, who is in Kuwaiti custody.
Kuwaiti officials have said that Fadhli was a key member of al Qaeda cell planning to bomb a hotel in Saan’a with American guests.
His interrogation has also provided information about the attack on the Limburg.
Sources indicated that some Kuwaiti al-Qaeda elements have transferred as much as US $50,000 to carry out the Limburg bombing.
And for the first time, this week sources in Sana’a confirmed that Egyptian authorities handed over the Yemeni businessman Abdusalam Al Hila, a leading member in the ruling party, to the US authorities.
Saudi Okadh newspaper said Wednesday that Al Hila was transferred from Cairo during September to a US prison in Turkey where he stayed for a few days, before he was moved to Washington.
The US intelligence has included his name among wanted persons, on the grounds that he has information about Arab Afghans which interest the US.
This has been confirmed by Al Hila younger brother, Abdul Wahab.
“I have a confirmed information that my brother is in Washington and communications between Yemen and the US are taking place to release him,” said the brother.
There was concern previously that Al Hila was ‘kidnapped’ while asked to come to Egypt for a business trip.
The Quds newspaper said that Egyptian officials informed Yemeni authorities recently that Egypt expelled Al Hila to the US on the request of the FBI office in Cairo for investigating him on Al Qaeda links.
“The Egyptian intelligence brought him around gradually through its embassy in Sana’a last month,” Yemeni sources said.
The Yemeni government discussed the disappearance of Al Hila, 34, last month and charged the foreign and interior ministers to follow up the case with the Egyptian officials.
About 173 detainees are still held by the Yemeni authorities suspected of having links to al-Qaeda. Fourteen of them were released last month.
Yemen officials have also said that the November 3 missile strike by an unmanned CIA plane that killed six suspected al Qaeda members was part of its security cooperation with the United States.

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