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Plane 'plotter' met Yemen cleric Plane 'plotter' met Yemen cleric
(20 minutes later)
The alleged US plane bomber met radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, after being recruited in London, a senior Yemeni official has said.The alleged US plane bomber met radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, after being recruited in London, a senior Yemeni official has said.
Last week US security official John Brennan said there were "indications" of direct contact between the two men.Last week US security official John Brennan said there were "indications" of direct contact between the two men.
Mr Awlaki was linked to an attack by a US army major on the Fort Hood base in November, in which 13 people died.Mr Awlaki was linked to an attack by a US army major on the Fort Hood base in November, in which 13 people died.
Yemeni Deputy PM Rashad al-Alimi also said bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab used explosives from Nigeria not Yemen.Yemeni Deputy PM Rashad al-Alimi also said bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab used explosives from Nigeria not Yemen.
Mr Abdulmutallab was indicted by a US grand jury on six counts on Wednesday.Mr Abdulmutallab was indicted by a US grand jury on six counts on Wednesday.
ANWAR AL-AWLAKI Born 1971 in New MexicoSermons in San Diego, California, attended by two of 9/11 hijackersEndorsed violence as religious dutyMoved to Yemen in 2004 to live in ancestral home villageJailed in 2006 for alleged plot to kidnap US military attacheAdvised Fort Hood suspect Maj Nidal Malik Hasan by email Profile: Anwar al-Awlaki Al-Qaeda's influence in Yemen Q&A: 'Jet bomber' case
Charges against him include attempted murder of the 290 people aboard the plane and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.Charges against him include attempted murder of the 290 people aboard the plane and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.
Mr Abdulmutallab allegedly tried to detonate a bomb on Northwest flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit, but the plane landed safely after crew and passengers overpowered him.Mr Abdulmutallab allegedly tried to detonate a bomb on Northwest flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit, but the plane landed safely after crew and passengers overpowered him.
In a separate development, Mr Alimi said that five Germans including three children and a Briton kidnapped in Yemen six months ago are still alive.In a separate development, Mr Alimi said that five Germans including three children and a Briton kidnapped in Yemen six months ago are still alive.
He said northern Shia rebels were co-operating with al-Qaeda over the kidnap.He said northern Shia rebels were co-operating with al-Qaeda over the kidnap.
'Not just a cleric''Not just a cleric'
Mr Awlaki, a radical American Muslim cleric of Yemeni descent, has been linked to other attacks, including that carried out by US army Maj Nidal Malik Hasan at the Fort Hood army base in Texas in November.Mr Awlaki, a radical American Muslim cleric of Yemeni descent, has been linked to other attacks, including that carried out by US army Maj Nidal Malik Hasan at the Fort Hood army base in Texas in November.
Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been in custody since 25 DecemberUmar Farouk Abdulmutallab has been in custody since 25 December
"Mr Awlaki is a problem. He's clearly a part of al-Qaeda in [the] Arabian Peninsula," Mr Brennan, who is UN deputy national security adviser, told CNN last week."Mr Awlaki is a problem. He's clearly a part of al-Qaeda in [the] Arabian Peninsula," Mr Brennan, who is UN deputy national security adviser, told CNN last week.
"He's not just a cleric. He is in fact trying to instigate terrorism.""He's not just a cleric. He is in fact trying to instigate terrorism."
Some reports say the cleric was killed just before the Christmas attack, in an airstrike on a suspected al-Qaeda base.Some reports say the cleric was killed just before the Christmas attack, in an airstrike on a suspected al-Qaeda base.
However, friends and relatives say he was not harmed in the raid.However, friends and relatives say he was not harmed in the raid.
'A certain shock''A certain shock'
Confirmation of the meeting between the two men comes as the White House plans to publish a declassified account of the Christmas Day plot.Confirmation of the meeting between the two men comes as the White House plans to publish a declassified account of the Christmas Day plot.
In an interview for USA Today newspaper, National Security Adviser Gen James Jones said people would feel "a certain shock" that clues about Mr Abdulmutallab's role were not acted on.In an interview for USA Today newspaper, National Security Adviser Gen James Jones said people would feel "a certain shock" that clues about Mr Abdulmutallab's role were not acted on.
President Barack Obama "is legitimately and correctly alarmed that things that were available, bits of information that were available, patterns of behaviour that were available, were not acted on", he said.President Barack Obama "is legitimately and correctly alarmed that things that were available, bits of information that were available, patterns of behaviour that were available, were not acted on", he said.
Mr Obama is expected to address the nation about the incident later in the day and unveil new steps aimed at avoiding further terrorist attacks.Mr Obama is expected to address the nation about the incident later in the day and unveil new steps aimed at avoiding further terrorist attacks.