Intensifying al-Qaeda attacks are government’s biggest challenge, President Saleh

The president of the Republic Ali Abdullah Saleh compared a recent wave of attacks on the security forces to the violence against government forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Speaking at  al Saleh mosque Saturday, the President appealed to religious clerics and Yemen’s people to back the state in the fight against terrorism.
 
The President’s address came during a ceremony at the conclusion of a course for 74 preachers from different parts
 
of the state that was organized by the National Awareness Organization.
 
«We count on preachers to perform their awareness role to ensure moderation and tolerant teachings of Islam.
 
«Not all people are extremists. The population of Yemen is approximately 25 million citizens and most of them are moderate and good», President Saleh pointed out.
 
«Our people ... should foil this plot,» he said. «The citizens should stand by the side of the state. These terrorists ... are harming the nation’s and the citizens’ interests.»

The President said the battle against al Qaeda was the «worst phase» of the government’s effort to bring order to the country. «This remains the last phase, which is the worst phase,» Saleh said.
 
«These people are ignorant, do not understand the true teaching of Islam, they are drug-traffickers and drug users and they are enemies of Islam, bandit that attack police stations, military and security posts, state institutions and foreign residents in Yemen», President Saleh explained.
 
He said that the terrorists have turned now to target security services, which is the same mechanism followed in Afghanistan and Iraq, but they will not succeed before the firmness of Yemeni people.
 
A newspaper published by the Defense Ministry said Sunday that the government would not accept the presence of foreign forces.
 
The Interior Ministry, which is also responsible for security, said Sunday it has raised the level of alert for its forces across the country and increased the number of patrols.
 
A newspaper published by the Defense Ministry said Sunday that the government would not accept the presence of foreign forces.
 
The Interior Ministry, which is also responsible for security, said Sunday it has raised the level of alert for its forces across the country and increased the number of patrols.

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