Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 23:00:32 +0200
Friends of Yemen meet as Sana'a continues AQAP offensive
Sana'a launches Operation Together for a Yemen without Terrorism in Shabwa
and Abyan
Written by : <http://www.aawsat.net/author/mina-al-oraibi> Mina Al-Oraibi
on : Wednesday, 30 Apr, 2014
London and Sana'a, Asharq Al-Awsat-The Friends of Yemen group urged Sana'a
on Tuesday to set out a clear timetable for a referendum on a new
constitution and subsequent elections as the military continued a major
offensive against Al-Qaeda militants in the south of the country.
In a meeting jointly chaired by Saudi Arabia, Britain and Yemen in London,
the Friends of Yemen announced the establishment of a new senior-level
Steering Committee to coordinate their support for Yemen, in addition to the
creation of three working groups focused on key economic, political and
security reforms.
"The Friends of Yemen reiterate that the only way to a united, peaceful,
stable and prosperous Yemen is through the implementation of the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative," a statement from the group of 39
nations and organizations affirmed. The Friends of Yemen also acknowledged
the need for economic and political reform, particularly tackling corruption
and investing in infrastructure, calling on Sana'a to quickly establish a
timetable for vital economic reforms.
The group welcomed UN Security Council resolution 2140, which established a
sanctions committee with a view to applying measures against individuals or
entities believed to be engaged in or providing support for acts that
threaten Yemen's peace, security or stability.
In comments to Asharq Al-Awsat, British Ambassador to Yemen Jane Marriott
stressed that the Friends of Yemen conference is important because it
highlights the interests of Yemen at a time when the international community
is facing numerous crises.
Yemen continues to face a number of security challenges, most prominently
from the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) group. Sana'a launched a
major military offensive against Al-Qaeda militants in the south of the
country after the intermittent conflict between government forces and the
terrorist group heated up earlier this month.
The first major raid in that new security offensive resulted in the deaths
of of 55 suspected Al-Qaeda fighters during a raid in Shabwa province, with
reports that AQAP bomb-maker Ibrahim Al-Asiri was among those killed. The
raid came in response to video depicting the group's emir, Nasir
Al-Wuahyshi, openly meeting with hundreds of AQAP fighters in Yemen and
pledging renewed attacks on the US.
The major offensive by Yemen's armed forces, coodinating with members of the
Popular Committees, tribal leaders and police forces, is part of Operation
Together for a Yemen without Terrorism.
The state-run SABA news agency reported that three Al-Qaeda militants were
killed and 10 others wounded in Abyan province in a government raid on
Wednesday, quoting a Yemeni military official. The report said five
"leading" Al-Qaeda militants had been killed in Shabwa province on Tuesday.
But a Yemeni security source speaking on the condition of anonymity informed
Asharq Al-Awsat that the death toll could be significantly higher, reporting
that at least 27 people were killed in the fighting, including 15 soldiers.
The major offensive came as Yemen's President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi
claimed on Tuesday that 70 percent of AQAP fighters are non-Yemeni
nationals. "These foreigners don't care if the country is destroyed," SABA
quoted the president as saying.
Speaking at the opening of the Friends of Yemen conference on Tuesday,
British foreign secretary William Hague stressed that the group must back
Sana'a's attempts to eradicate AQAP, saying: "We have to be clear that the
international community will not tolerate acts of violence or other actions
intended to derail Yemen's transition, and AQAP must have nowhere to hide."
"We [the Friends of Yemen] must all continue to support stability and to
counter terrorism, including through reform of the security sector," Hague
said, adding that "AQAP is still a threat both within Yemen and
internationally," he added.
Arafat Madabish contributed reporting from Sana'a
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague (center) listens as Yemen Foreign
Minister Dr Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi (left) speaks during the Friends of Yemen
meeting in central London, Tuesday April 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Carl Court)
Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague (C) listens as Yemen Foreign
Minister Dr. Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi (L) speaks during the Friends of Yemen
meeting in London on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Carl Court)
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