Aden: Yemen has handed to Saudi Arabia 29 Al Qaida militants who were wanted by the Saudi authorities, the Yemeni defence ministry website said on Tuesday, citing informed sources.
The website quoted the sources as saying the militants had Saudi nationality and that they had been handed over to the Saudi security apparatus in the past few days.
Saudi interior ministry spokesman Major General Mansour Turki said he had no information on the matter, but was seeking to verify the report.
Yemen, which neighbours top oil exporter Saudi Arabia, is home to one of Al Qaida’s most active branches, known as ‘Al Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula’, who have plotted unsuccessfully to attack Western targets, including international airliners.
Saudi Arabia is worried that instability in Yemen, where security forces also face challenges from a northern rebellion and southern secessionists, will spill over its borders.
Saudi Arabia is a top target for Al Qaida.
