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| Alert shuts US, UK Yemen missions | Alert shuts US, UK Yemen missions |
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| The US and Britain have shut their Yemen embassies after threats from an al-Qaeda offshoot linked to an alleged failed US plane bomb plot. | The US and Britain have shut their Yemen embassies after threats from an al-Qaeda offshoot linked to an alleged failed US plane bomb plot. |
| The UK Foreign Office told the BBC its embassy in the capital Sanaa was closed "for security reasons", hours after the US announced its mission had been shut. | The UK Foreign Office told the BBC its embassy in the capital Sanaa was closed "for security reasons", hours after the US announced its mission had been shut. |
| British Prime Minister Gordon Brown earlier said the UK and US would step up counter-terror efforts in Yemen. | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown earlier said the UK and US would step up counter-terror efforts in Yemen. |
| There are mounting fears lawless Yemen is becoming an al-Qaeda haven. | There are mounting fears lawless Yemen is becoming an al-Qaeda haven. |
| The embassy closures follow last week's threat by a group called al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, urging Muslims to help in "killing every crusader who works at their embassies or other places". | The embassy closures follow last week's threat by a group called al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, urging Muslims to help in "killing every crusader who works at their embassies or other places". |
| In an internet statement, the group also said it was behind an attempt to bomb a transatlantic airliner on Christmas Day. | In an internet statement, the group also said it was behind an attempt to bomb a transatlantic airliner on Christmas Day. |
| YEMEN FACTS Population: 23.6 million (UN, 2009)Capital: SanaaLanguage: Arabic Major religion: IslamOil exports: $1.5bn/24.5m barrels (Jan-Oct 2009)Income per capita: US $950 (World Bank, 2008) Profile: Al-Qaeda in Yemen Attack stokes Yemen terror fears Country profile: Yemen Send us your comments | |
| On Saturday, President Barack Obama said the organisation appeared to have trained 23-year-old Nigerian accused Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is being held in a US prison. | On Saturday, President Barack Obama said the organisation appeared to have trained 23-year-old Nigerian accused Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who is being held in a US prison. |
| It was not clear when the UK or US embassies would reopen. | It was not clear when the UK or US embassies would reopen. |
| In a brief statement on its website on Sunday, the US embassy said: "The US Embassy in Sanaa is closed today, January 3, 2010, in response to ongoing threats by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to attack American interests in Yemen." | In a brief statement on its website on Sunday, the US embassy said: "The US Embassy in Sanaa is closed today, January 3, 2010, in response to ongoing threats by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to attack American interests in Yemen." |
| The embassy also reminded US citizens in Yemen to be vigilant and aware of security. | The embassy also reminded US citizens in Yemen to be vigilant and aware of security. |
| A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the British embassy was closed on Sunday and a decision would be taken later on whether to open it on Monday. | A Foreign Office spokeswoman said the British embassy was closed on Sunday and a decision would be taken later on whether to open it on Monday. |
| Hours earlier, the British prime minister told the BBC: "This is a new type of threat and it is from a new source which is obviously Yemen, but there are many other potential sources Somalia, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan." | Hours earlier, the British prime minister told the BBC: "This is a new type of threat and it is from a new source which is obviously Yemen, but there are many other potential sources Somalia, as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan." |
| The US mission in Sanaa was the target of an attack in September 2008, which was blamed on al-Qaeda, and in which 19 people died, including a young American woman. | The US mission in Sanaa was the target of an attack in September 2008, which was blamed on al-Qaeda, and in which 19 people died, including a young American woman. |
| Also on Saturday, Gen Petraeus, head of US Middle East and Central Asian operations, visited Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh to to pledge US support for its fight with al-Qaeda. | Also on Saturday, Gen Petraeus, head of US Middle East and Central Asian operations, visited Yemeni President Ali Abdallah Saleh to to pledge US support for its fight with al-Qaeda. |
| It came a day after the general announced that the US would more than double counter-terrorism aid to Yemen this year. | It came a day after the general announced that the US would more than double counter-terrorism aid to Yemen this year. |
| The US provided $67m (£41m) in training and support to Yemen last year; only Pakistan receives more, with about $112m, according to AP news agency. | The US provided $67m (£41m) in training and support to Yemen last year; only Pakistan receives more, with about $112m, according to AP news agency. |
| Yemeni officials said on Saturday they had sent more troops to fight al-Qaeda militants in the provinces of Abyan, Baida and Shabwa. | Yemeni officials said on Saturday they had sent more troops to fight al-Qaeda militants in the provinces of Abyan, Baida and Shabwa. |
| Yemeni security forces have been fighting militants | Yemeni security forces have been fighting militants |
| "These measures are part of operations to hunt down elements of al-Qaeda... and tighten the noose around extremists," a Yemeni official told AFP news agency. | "These measures are part of operations to hunt down elements of al-Qaeda... and tighten the noose around extremists," a Yemeni official told AFP news agency. |
| Analysts say the US has also provided intelligence to Yemeni forces, which carried out raids last month that reportedly left dozens of militants dead. | Analysts say the US has also provided intelligence to Yemeni forces, which carried out raids last month that reportedly left dozens of militants dead. |
| In his weekly address on Saturday, President Obama said militant training camps in Yemen had already "been struck, leaders eliminated, plots disrupted". | In his weekly address on Saturday, President Obama said militant training camps in Yemen had already "been struck, leaders eliminated, plots disrupted". |
| Yemen was thrust to the top of the Western security agenda in October 2000, when 17 US sailors died in an al-Qaeda suicide attack on the USS Cole destroyer in the port of Aden. | Yemen was thrust to the top of the Western security agenda in October 2000, when 17 US sailors died in an al-Qaeda suicide attack on the USS Cole destroyer in the port of Aden. |
| Correspondents say the Yemeni government needs economic as well as military aid. | Correspondents say the Yemeni government needs economic as well as military aid. |
| With a fast-growing and impoverished population, the country is facing diminishing water reserves and the likelihood that its only source of income, oil, will run dry in a few years. | With a fast-growing and impoverished population, the country is facing diminishing water reserves and the likelihood that its only source of income, oil, will run dry in a few years. |
| But security is just as big a challenge, complicated by an abundance of firearms, an insurgency in the north and a secessionist movement in the south. | But security is just as big a challenge, complicated by an abundance of firearms, an insurgency in the north and a secessionist movement in the south. |
| While the government is weak and unpopular in much of the country, the US has little choice but to work through it to fight al-Qaeda as any overt US presence would almost certainly provoke a public backlash. | While the government is weak and unpopular in much of the country, the US has little choice but to work through it to fight al-Qaeda as any overt US presence would almost certainly provoke a public backlash. |
| But the prospects of re-asserting central government authority over the lawless areas where al-Qaeda is based look, in the opinion of some analysts, remote - even with beefed-up American support. | But the prospects of re-asserting central government authority over the lawless areas where al-Qaeda is based look, in the opinion of some analysts, remote - even with beefed-up American support. |