Courier services: Parcel alert

 Dubai : Courier services have beefed up security checks and shipments from Yemen have been suspended following the interception of two US-bound parcel bombs sent from the country.

A spokesman for DHL told XPRESS, "The TSA [Transport Security Administration, USA] has issued an emergency alert to stop all Yemen-to-US shipments from November 1, 1700 GMT.

Hussain Hachem, Aramex CEO for the Middle East and Africa, said it is a standard procedure at Aramex to temporarily halt shipments from a destination in question where irregularities have been noted.

Sandra Munoz, Man-ager of Communications for FedEx Services, said it would not be possible to provide details of security procedures as it would compromise their systems and go against the stipulations of the US Transportation Security Administration.

"FedEx complies with all country-specific aviation security and anti-terrorist regulations. We employ multiple layers of complementary procedures and processes and we cooperate with law enforcement and regulatory agencies around the world.

"We continually eval-uate and implement procedures that enhance our security systems," she said.