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Partners agree Yemen terror plan | Partners agree Yemen terror plan |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Yemen and its foreign partners have agreed to work together to fight the threat of al-Qaeda. | Yemen and its foreign partners have agreed to work together to fight the threat of al-Qaeda. |
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the international conference in London bringing unity and stability to Yemen was an urgent national priority. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the international conference in London bringing unity and stability to Yemen was an urgent national priority. |
Donors from Western and Gulf countries have also agreed to meet in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in February. | Donors from Western and Gulf countries have also agreed to meet in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in February. |
The meeting was prompted by the failed Christmas Day alleged bid to blow up a US plane, claimed by al-Qaeda in Yemen. | The meeting was prompted by the failed Christmas Day alleged bid to blow up a US plane, claimed by al-Qaeda in Yemen. |
Ministers and officials from some 20 Western and Arab countries gathered to discuss security and wider economic and political problems facing Yemen, the poorest state in the Arab world. | Ministers and officials from some 20 Western and Arab countries gathered to discuss security and wider economic and political problems facing Yemen, the poorest state in the Arab world. |
'Must do more' | 'Must do more' |
Mrs Clinton said the US had signed a three-year agreement focused on addressing security and development issues in Yemen. | Mrs Clinton said the US had signed a three-year agreement focused on addressing security and development issues in Yemen. |
"To help the people of Yemen, we - the international community - can and must do more. And so must the Yemeni government," she said. | "To help the people of Yemen, we - the international community - can and must do more. And so must the Yemeni government," she said. |
She said military action alone would not be enough, adding that the international community would work with Yemen to promote human rights, build democratic institutions and combat corruption. | She said military action alone would not be enough, adding that the international community would work with Yemen to promote human rights, build democratic institutions and combat corruption. |
She urged the Yemeni government to enact its 10-point reform programme to lessen the influence of extremist groups. | She urged the Yemeni government to enact its 10-point reform programme to lessen the influence of extremist groups. |
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who chaired the talks, said the Yemeni government had agreed to start discussions with the IMF on economic reform. | British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who chaired the talks, said the Yemeni government had agreed to start discussions with the IMF on economic reform. |
Mr Miliband also announced the launch of a Friends of Yemen process to address wider challenges such as the economy, governance, justice and law enforcement. | Mr Miliband also announced the launch of a Friends of Yemen process to address wider challenges such as the economy, governance, justice and law enforcement. |
'Al-Qaeda base' | 'Al-Qaeda base' |
Yemen's Prime Minister Ali Mujawar welcomed the international support, but said it was "unacceptable" to portray Yemen as a failed state and warned against any violations of its sovereignty. | Yemen's Prime Minister Ali Mujawar welcomed the international support, but said it was "unacceptable" to portray Yemen as a failed state and warned against any violations of its sovereignty. |
Gordon Brown called on the London meeting to galvanise support for the Gulf state after the alleged US airliner bomb plot on 25 December 2009. | Gordon Brown called on the London meeting to galvanise support for the Gulf state after the alleged US airliner bomb plot on 25 December 2009. |
Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen claimed responsibility amid fears the country is becoming a haven for terrorists. | Al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen claimed responsibility amid fears the country is becoming a haven for terrorists. |
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 Yemen: Security and state Yemen voices: Security crisis class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8484224.stm">Fear of failure | |
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 talks also involved representatives of the European Union, United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). | The talks also involved representatives of the European Union, United Nations, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). |
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 it's 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 it's 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' | 'No US bases' |
Prior to the meeting, Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis said the meeting was important because Yemen was "not a failed state" but "an incredibly fragile state". | Prior to the meeting, Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis said the meeting was important because Yemen was "not a failed state" but "an incredibly fragile state". |
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". |
Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa told BBC News he questioned how effective the meeting could be. | Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa told BBC News he questioned how effective the meeting could be. |
"I don't know how a conference like that can decide something useful, something reasonable for Yemen... in a couple of hours," he said. | "I don't know how a conference like that can decide something useful, something reasonable for Yemen... in a couple of hours," he said. |
He added it was "strange" and a "very dangerous sign" that his organisation had not been invited to the talks. | He added it was "strange" and a "very dangerous sign" that his organisation had not been invited to the talks. |
Mr Moussa said the Arab League was concerned not solely about al-Qaeda but about Yemen's problems as a whole and that community reconciliation was required. | Mr Moussa said the Arab League was concerned not solely about al-Qaeda but about Yemen's problems as a whole and that community reconciliation was required. |