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| Yemen 'accepts need for reform' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Yemen's government has promised urgent political and economic reform to help fight al-Qaeda, in a statement drawn up ahead of international talks. | |
| Gordon Brown called the London meeting to galvanise support for the Gulf state after the alleged bid to blow up a US airliner on 25 December 2009. | |
| Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen claimed responsibility amid fears the country is becoming a haven for terrorists. | |
| The statement says Yemen's stability is at risk, Reuters news agency reports. | |
| It reports the draft statement as saying: "The challenges in Yemen are growing and, if not addressed, risk threatening the stability of the country and broader region. | |
| "The government of Yemen recognises the urgent need to address these issues, which will take sustained and focused engagement." | |
| Supporting the government of Yemen is crucial to the stability of that country but it is also crucial to the stability of the world Ivan LewisForeign Office minister class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8480370.stm">Yemen: Security and state class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/8458812.stm">Yemen voices: Security crisis | |
| Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the alleged bomb plot, is said to have told investigators that he was supplied with explosives in Yemen. | Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the suspect in the alleged bomb plot, is said to have told investigators that he was supplied with explosives in Yemen. |
| The London conference aims to find ways to address the long-term ills that have fed extremism within Yemen's borders. | |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other world leaders are to discuss how to stabilise the poverty-stricken nation. | |
| Yemeni Prime Minister Ali Mujawar is also attending the talks, chaired by British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, which involve representatives of the European Union, United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). | |
| Yemen has indicated it will pursue talks with the IMF as part of its reform programme. | |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the state's problems were both complex and profound. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the state's problems were both complex and profound. |
| "The poorest Arab country, its population is ballooning, oil revenues are dwindling, the water tables are sinking and its fighting a bloody insurgency that has already embroiled the Saudi army on its northern border," he said. | "The poorest Arab country, its population is ballooning, oil revenues are dwindling, the water tables are sinking and its fighting a bloody insurgency that has already embroiled the Saudi army on its northern border," he said. |
| "Into that unhappy mix comes a resurgent al-Qaeda that has chosen Yemen for its new base in the Middle East, and is now threatening to use it as a springboard to attack the West and its allies." | "Into that unhappy mix comes a resurgent al-Qaeda that has chosen Yemen for its new base in the Middle East, and is now threatening to use it as a springboard to attack the West and its allies." |
| 'No US bases' | |
| Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis said the meeting was important because Yemen was "not a failed state, but it is an incredibly fragile state". | Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis said the meeting was important because Yemen was "not a failed state, but it is an incredibly fragile state". |
| He added: "We want to see Yemen's neighbours make a more significant contribution and we want the international community to come together and recognise that supporting the government of Yemen is crucial to the stability of that country but it is also crucial to the stability of the world." | He added: "We want to see Yemen's neighbours make a more significant contribution and we want the international community to come together and recognise that supporting the government of Yemen is crucial to the stability of that country but it is also crucial to the stability of the world." |
| Yemen's Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said that his country wanted "international support to build infrastructure, combat poverty and create jobs, as well as support in combating terrorism". | Yemen's Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi said that his country wanted "international support to build infrastructure, combat poverty and create jobs, as well as support in combating terrorism". |
| But he told the BBC that the idea of US military bases on Yemeni soil was "inconceivable". | But he told the BBC that the idea of US military bases on Yemeni soil was "inconceivable". |
| Ginny Hill, an associate fellow at Chatham House in London, told the BBC that the sense of urgency underpinning the talks stemmed from the fact that Yemen was a "collapsing state". | |
| She added: "Oil revenues are falling, as oil production turns downward and there is currently little inward investment to support a sustainable economic base. | She added: "Oil revenues are falling, as oil production turns downward and there is currently little inward investment to support a sustainable economic base. |
| "Terrorist networks are likely to grow as the state collapses, so an effective counterterrorism strategy requires a long-term commitment to development, good governance and state building." | "Terrorist networks are likely to grow as the state collapses, so an effective counterterrorism strategy requires a long-term commitment to development, good governance and state building." |
| Are you a Yemeni? Will you be following the meeting? Send us your comments. | Are you a Yemeni? Will you be following the meeting? Send us your comments. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |