Yemen Captures Al Qaeda Suspects Tied to Plot Against U.S.

Debmey

SAN'A, Yemen —  Yemeni security forces arrested threesuspected Al Qaeda militants from a cell that the U.S. has said was linked to aplot against the American or other embassies, the Interior Ministry saidWednesday.
The arrests were the latest move in Yemen's U.S.-backed crackdown on AlQaeda's offshoot here, as Yemeni officials trumpet that they are taking on themilitant group.
The U.S.and British embassies closed for two days this week because of threats that AlQaeda was planning an attack. Other Western embassies also took securityprecautions, closing to the public or limiting access.
The two missions reopened on Tuesday, after the United States said an assault byYemeni security forces on an Al Qaeda cell northeast of the capital a dayearlier had "addressed" the threat.
In those clashes, Yemeni forces attacked a group of Al Qaeda fighters movingin the mountains in the Arhab region. The troops were aiming to capture AlQaeda's suspected leader in the area, Mohammed Ahmed al-Hanaq, and a relativeNazeeh al-Hanaq, the ministry said.
They escaped, but two fighters with them were killed and several others werewounded

On Tuesday, security forces captured three of the wounded militants while theywere being treated at a hospital in Reyda, a region northwest of the capital,San'a, the ministry said. Also arrested were four people suspected oftransporting the militants to the hospital and hiding them there.
No identities were given for the captured militants.
Yemen's government hasincreasingly claimed successes against Al Qaeda in recent days, a sign ofofficials' anger over suggestions the state is too weakened to handle the fightagainst terrorists as the United  States dramatically ramps up itscounterterrorism aid to the unstable, impoverished nation.
The embassy closure on Sunday became a case in point, rankling someofficials who said it gave the appearance that Yemeni security forces could notprotect the facilities.
On Tuesday, as the embassy reopened, the Interior Ministry insisted thefight against Al Qaeda was under control, saying Yemeni forces "haveimposed a security cordon around Al Qaeda elements everywhere they are presentand...are observing and pursuing them around the clock."
The ministry said it had captured five other militants in recent days aroundSan'a and in the western region of Hodeida.Thousands of troops have been sent to provinces east of the capital where theterror group has set up strongholds in a bid to strengthen government controlin the areas.
The government also has carried out a series of U.S.-backed strikes againstmilitant hideouts in the past month.
More broadly, the intensified partnership with the U.S. presents dilemmas for Yemen.
The government is concerned that too public an American role in the anti-terrorcampaign could embarrass the government, presenting it as weak before a Yemenipublic where mistrust of the United  States runs high. It also could bring abacklash from Islamic conservatives who are a major pillar of support forPresident Ali Abdullah Saleh.
Moreover, Yemeni officials appear worried American aid will come withpressure on Saleh to reform his rule in this unstable, divided nation.
The government is deeply sensitive over any hint of meddling in its internalaffairs. But at the same time, it is being battered by multiple crises andneeds assistance.
It has little control outside the capital, and heavily armed tribes holdsway over large parts of the mountainous, impoverished nation. Many tribes aredisgruntled with Saleh, and some have allowed Al Qaeda fighters to take refuge.On other fronts, it is battling Shiite rebels in the north and a revivedseparatist campaign in the once-independent south.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday praised Yemeniaction but warned that Al Qaeda's offshoot in Yemen has become a global threat.The group is being blamed for planning the Christmas attempt to bomb a U.S. passengerjet.

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