Yemen denies pact with U.S. to strike terrorists

Yemen yesterday denied to have concluded a secret agreement with the United States to "launch a joint military campaign against elements affiliated to Al Qaida organisation" as reported yesterday.

"The news that Yemen has concluded a secret agreement with the US to launch a joint military campaign against elements affiliated to AlQaida organisation is untrue and baseless and lack credibility and objectivity," a senior government official was quoted here yesterday as saying.

The official added that there was "no agreement of this kind, and that the Yemeni security bodies are so capable and competent that they can perform their duty in withstanding the outlaws and achieving the security control all over the country."

Cooperation between Yemen and U.S. is restricted only to training, qualifying and technical aspects. Tens of military experts have been training the Yemeni Special Forces on fighting terror, the official said. He denied the presence of any bases belonging to Al Qaida or to any other terrorist organisation or movement inside Yemeni territories.

However, the official admitted that there is some limited "known elements of the suspects who have been shifting from place to place, saying that the security forces will keep chasing them until they are arrested." He added that any one proved guilty or involved in terrorist acts or having links with Al Qaida or otherwise, will be brought to justice, the sources added.