Yemeni authorities intensify campaign in Mareb, al-Jouf to arrest, assassinate al-Qaida leader
Yemen, Politics, 11/23/2002
The Yemeni ministry of the interior yesterday started circulation of pictures of wanted persons of al-Qaida organization at the country's land, sea and air crossings in an attempt by the Yemeni government to find the wanted elements following the collapse in the "Yemen's cell" -- following the assassination of Qaid Sanyan al-Harithi in an operation which was carried out by the Yemeni security authorities in coordination with the CIA.
The Yemeni authorities have intensified their efforts to arrest the second highest ranking man in the organization in the country, Muhammad Hamdi al-Ahdal, known as "Abi Asem" who has been chased in the deserts of Mareb and al-Jouf provinces, especially after achieving a progress in monitoring him by the Yemeni authorities and the CIA.
Well-informed sources said that the Yemeni authorities are coordinating with tribal men in the two provinces in order to monitor the moves of al-Ahdal who was handed over more than 80 million Riyals by which he gives the tribal-men sums to ensure his protection in areas which are unreachable by the eyes of the Yemeni and American intelligence.
Yemeni security sources disclosed that arresting Ali Abdul Rahim Hussein Muhammad al-Nashiri and sending him to the US was made with Yemeni help in providing information about him. Al-Nashiri, one of the most dangerious al- Qaida members was arrested in one of the Arab states which handed him to the USA.
The US intelligence claims that al-Nashiri had financially contributed to finance the attack on the US warship USS Cole in October 2000 and he had also contributed in buying a small steam boat, a car and rented two flats in Aden in 1999 in preparation for blowing off the warship in the port of Aden, but the operation failed after the attacking boat drowned in the water of the Gulf of Aden before the beginning of the operation.
Yemeni sources indicated that al-Nashiri ordered one al-Qaida member to video tape the attack which targeted warship "USS Cole." He is also accused of taking part in the bombardment of the two American embassies in Nairobi and Dar al-Salaam in 1998.
Observers say that arresting al- Nashiri will accelerate the process of bringing persons accused of the attack against "USS Cole" before the judiciary. Yemeni sources expected the process of trying the convicted persons who include eight individuals to start following Eid al-Fiter.