[STARWISE]

Yemen police swiftly cordon off the area

Series of blasts near US embassy in Yemen

Blazing vehicle visible on road past US embassy compound's heavily fortified perimeter in Sanaa.

SANAA - A series of explosions struck near the US embassy in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Wednesday, two witnesses said.

There was no immediate word on any casualties.

A blazing vehicle was visible on the road past the embassy compound's heavily fortified perimeter and police swiftly cordoned off the area, the witnesses said.

A US embassy official declined to comment on the blasts. "I cannot confirm it. I cannot talk about it," the official said asking not to be identified.

In April the State Department ordered the evacuation of non-essential diplomatic staff following an attack on the embassy claimed by Al-Qaeda the previous month and rocket fire on a Sanaa residential compound used by US oilmen.

The embassy called on Americans in Yemen to "exercise caution and take prudent security measures, including maintaining a high level of vigilance, avoiding crowds and demonstrations, keeping a low profile, varying times and routes for all travel."

In recent years, militants have carried out several attacks in Yemen, one of the poorest countries on the planet.

In October 2000, Al-Qaeda attacked American warship the USS Cole off the southern port of Aden, using a small boat packed with explosives to blow a hole in the side of the vessel, killing 17 American sailors.

[STARWISE]

US government offers $3.1 mln support for vulnerable Yemeni youth
16/09/2008
SANA’A, NewsYemen

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Excerpt:

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The US government granted Yemen $3.1 million dollars to support initiatives providing workforce and skill development opportunities for vulnerable Yemeni youth.

The agreement “a Limited Scope Grant Agreement with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, was signed on Monday by Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi and the US ambassador to Yemen Stephen Seche.

Al-Arhabi expressed Yemeni government’s gratitude for US support that aims to alleviate poverty and create job opportunities for vulnerable Yemeni youth, pointing that US is a key partner to push development in Yemen further.

The US Ambassador Seche said, “This agreement will allow us to address the vulnerability of the Yemeni youth; dealing with the challenges youth face, and developing youths potential.

It is our hope that this will result in decreasing youth vulnerability and enabling vulnerable youth make informed, practical, and positive life choices that contribute towards the stability and prosperity of their communities”.

http://www.newsyemen.net/en/view_news.asp?sub_no=3_2008_09_16_7433
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So much for gratitude.

[Son House]

Just guessing by the way these guys in the picture are dressed, this may be a glimpse of an unseen moment where they are being trained by the best, without sinking ships, we knew that they were seeking lesser countries because they could no longer act where the going was getting tough