Yemen denies U.S. trained its security forces

The Yemeni government has denied reports that the security forces, deployed in three governorates east of the country, have been trained by the United States, official sources said here.

Yemeni Minister of Interior Rashad Al Alimi dismissed the reports as "baseless and lacks credibility and objectivity".

The troops, numbering about 1,000, were from the Central Security Forces, and were trained and prepared by the highly qualified and well-experienced Yemeni trainers, the weekly 26 September quoted the minister as saying.

The minister made it clear that this is only the first batch of security forces, deployed within the framework of the new comprehensive security plan all over the country.

The plan has been drawn in line with a new strategic vision to enhance the capabilities of the security bodies in technical and professional aspects, said the minister.

The objectives of the plan is to achieve an effective security presence and achieve complete control on security measures in all the governorates of the country, the minister said.

Meanwhile, the minister announced that a German security team is arriving in Sanaa today to set up a Central Criminal Laboratory that has been provided to Yemen by the German government in the framework of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The German team will install the equipment of the laboratory and train Yemeni cadres on using the laboratory. They will be trained in all specialisations in connection with tests and analyses in the field of legal medicine, including DNA tests, the minister said.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh early this week kicked off a security deployment plan in three governorates, east of the country, where Al Qaida suspects are believed to be hiding. A total of 13 security areas were set up in these governorates.

Clashes between the security forces and the tribesmen of Marib, Shabwah and Al Jawf were reported since security forces began the hunt for Al Qaida suspects in the three governorates late last December.

Timothy Keating, Vice-Admiral, the Commander of the U.S. Naval Forces, and Commander of the Fifth Fleet in Central Command, met with Abdul Qader Bajamal, the Yemeni Prime Minister, earlier this week and discussed with him ways to support the coast guards to prevent any infiltration of suspected elements in the country.