Yemen Observer

Four al-Huthi members sentenced to death

Tue, 13 May 2008 01:17:42 PST

The Specialized Penal Court, presided over by Judge Muhsin Alwan, sentenced four of al-Huthi followers to death. Ali Dhaifallah Mohawish was the only arrested and the remaining three Mahadi Dhaifallah Mohawish, Hamdi Ali Misha’th and Selman Ahmed Hassan...

Somalis refugees shift route to the red sea

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:52:36 PST

KHARAZ - Thousands of Somali refugees have been arriving to Yemen through Djibouti recently, said Ramadhan Abbas Ibrahim 34, from Mugadishu who arrived a long with 120 other people on a boat to Thubab in southwest Yemen on May 10.

Yemen, Syria confirm support for security and stability in the region

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:47:18 PST

Yemen and Syria affirmed their firm support for the establishment of security and peace in the Middle East this past week.

Defense presents arguments in French smuggling case

Tue, 13 May 2008 00:42:33 PST

In the second session of the trial of Yves Lebourgeois, the 58-year old French national accused of attempting to smuggle rare Yemeni artifacts out of the country, the Capital East Court fined the General Organization for Antiquities and Museums (GOAM) YR 10,000 for not attending the trial.

Yemeni artifacts redline

Sun, 11 May 2008 02:02:55 PST

The security authorities caught a Canadian citizen with nearly 200 artifacts dating back to the Stone Age at Sana’a airport last Thursday, said a security official.

Sa’adah conflict displaces 50,000, detainees ill-treated

Sat, 10 May 2008 02:13:50 PST

Some 50,000 people have been displaced from their homes due to fighting between government troops and rebels since the northern Yemen’s Sa’adah conflict started four years ago.

Many nominees filed for governors’ elections, including women

Sat, 10 May 2008 01:55:16 PST

The governors’ elections nominees’ applications reached so far nearly 200, including six women. Teams of the civil societies undertook observation, as the Administration Ministry’s observation committee issued more than 42 cards to members of these societies in pursuance to transparency of the elections.

Two kidnapped Japanese tourists set free

Thu, 08 May 2008 08:23:44 PST

Following security pressure and tribal negotiations, the two female Japanese tourists who were kidnapped Wednesday morning in the Marib province have been set free, according to the head of the tribal mediation delegation, Sheikh bin Muaili. The two women were handed over to the security authorities in Marib late Wednesday night and were escorted to Sana’a Thursday morning.

Tribal mediation starts to free Japanese tourists kidnapped in Mareb

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:19:53 PST

Tribal mediation started contacts and negotiations with kidnappers to release the two Japanese hostages, kidnapped by some tribesmen in the governorate Mareb, 300 km northern east Sana'a., said Sheikh bin M'aeli of Mareb.
The two Japanese female tourists were kidnapped by militant tribesmen in Mareb province Wednesday morning.

Mediation committee back in Sa’adah

Wed, 07 May 2008 05:24:44 PST

A presidential mediation committee, along with the Qatari committee arrived Sunday in Sa’adah in a bid to contain the volatile situation and sporadic clashes between government troops and al-Huthi rebels after the Friday mosque bombing, sources from the committee said.

This comes just after six suspects believed to be involved in the bombing that took place in front of the Bin Salman mosque after Friday prayers in Sa’adah governorate were arrested on Friday evening at a checkpoint with weapons in their car, said a spokesperson from the Ministry of Interior.

French suspect in smuggling case released on bail

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:24:37 PST

The Eastern Court of the capital released the 58 year-old French citizen, Yves Lebourgeois, accused of attempting to smuggle Yemeni ancient artifacts, according to Saba news agency.

Journalists demand improvments in freedom and professional standards in Yemen media

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:47:21 PST

Nullifying imprisonment of journalists, freedom of information and its disseminatios, issuing newspaper rights, qualifying journalists through training in and outside Yemen, improving living standards of journalists all were among top recommendations participants agreed on in the two-day symposium titled Press Freedom in Yemen between Responsibility and Commitment on May 3-4 organized by Eradt Shaab Organization.

Al-Wasat comes back by court sentence against minister’s decree

Wed, 07 May 2008 01:41:17 PST

The Sana'a West court recently issued its verdict against the Minister of Information's decision for revoking the al-Wasat newspaper license in its meeting on May 3, 2008.

Cabinet orders closure of monopolizing diesel stations

Sun, 04 May 2008 05:36:30 PST

The Cabinet is holding Ministry of Oil and Minerals responsible for overseeing the process of the supply and distribution of diesel to the licensed stations in Yemen and to take legal action against manipulators of the distribution, as well as ordering the closure of the stations that manipulate or violate laws of diesel distribution.

Customs Training Institute attacked by two mortars

Sat, 03 May 2008 05:26:57 PST

The Customs Training Institute was attacked this Wednesday and was hit by two mortar shells fired in Sana’a just 300 meters from the Italian Embassy with no injuries or losses reported, said a sources in the Interior Ministry.

Senior official denies closure of UN offices

Sat, 03 May 2008 03:56:57 PST

According to a senior UN official source, the UN has not closed any of its offices in Yemen, however their offices in Yemen have raised the level of security in a attempt to mitigate any terrorist attacks.

9,600 state employees sacked, 35,000 dual jobs canceled

Sat, 03 May 2008 02:31:38 PST

A large number state employees numbering 9,600 were fired by the Ministry of Civil Service for failing to give their automated fingerprints on time, said Minister of Civil Service Hamoud al-Soufi last Tuesday.

Ministry of Interior arrests Bin Salman attack suspects in Sa'adah

Fri, 02 May 2008 10:58:32 PST

Six suspects believed to be involved in the bombing that took place in front of the Bin Salman mosque after today prayers in Sa'adah governorate were arrested today evening at a checkpoint with weapons in their car, said a spokesperson from the Ministry of Interior.

Eyewitnesses said that the car the suspects were driving was parked in front of the mosque and that none of the passengers went inside the mosque to pray; instead they waited until the bomb exploded and then escaped the scene.

Today’s educators remain cornerstone of development

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:05:09 PST

The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and High Education must update their strategy for teacher-related and developmental programs to train and qualify teachers, particularly basic education teachers, said Vice President Abd Rabu Hadi in a festival held to honor prominent teachers on Teacher’s Day last Sunday.

Saudi authorities burn Yemeni migrants

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:58:15 PST

Saudi authorities burned 18 Yemeni migrants in Khamis Mushait, located near the borders of Saudi Arabia and Yemen, before deporting them to Yemen last week.

Sana’a real estate investment project to cost $100 million

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:53:06 PST

An agreement of development and partnership between the Sunrise Towers Establishment and the Inshaa Company for Development and Investment Ltd. has been signed, costing $100 million.

55,000 tons of diesel arrive; vehicles lines up continue

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:50:36 PST

The Ministry of Oil and Minerals announced that the recent crisis of diesel fuel has recently began to disappear as a result of the arrival of a ship carrying 55,000 tons of diesel. However, until writing this news, it was noticed that hundreds of cars and trucks have been lining up in many gas stations in the capital.

70% change anticipated in governor elections

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:44:45 PST

The first female candidate running for governor in the upcoming elections is from Lahj, according to Minister of Local Administration, Abdul-Qader Helal. The announcement was made last Monday in a press conference.

110,000 unlicensed weapons seized

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:18:31 PST

The number of seized weapons by Yemeni security authorities has increased to over 110,000 from August of last year until now.
A source from the Ministry of Interior said that 3,151 weapons were captured inside cities since the weapon ban campaign this Tuesday

Qatari committee resumes talks with rebels

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:18:17 PST

A Qatari committee returned to Sa’ada in the north of Yemen to resume talks with the rebels, official sources said Thursday. Talks between the Yemeni government and al-Houthi followers dealt with a four-year long armed rebellion. It is reported that a brokered deal had reached a deadlock last week.