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Americans in Yemen warned of al-Qaeda escapees
The U.S. embassy in Yemen has urged Americans in the Arab country to be more security-conscious after 23 militants, including 13 al Qaeda convicts, broke out of jail earlier this month."(The) escape of 23 convicted and suspected al Qaeda operatives from a Sanaa prison has highlighted the need for Americans to review their personal security practices," said a statement dated February 14 posted on the embassy Web site. "While the U.S. embassy has no information of an imminent threat, the embassy has advised that official Americans are most vulnerable when they are not at their residences or working at the embassy." The embassy said it had urged Americans to avoid crowded areas, limit visits outside their homes, cut back on travel and avoid trips after dark. There are only a small number of Americans in impoverished Yemen, which has seen repeated kidnappings of Westerners by tribesmen in recent years. Besides Americans working at the embassy and a language center, there are believed to be a few U.S. military experts and some Americans working in the oil industry. Yemen on Tuesday offered a reward of $25,500 for information leading to the arrest of the 13 al Qaeda inmates, who were among 23 who tunneled their way out of prison. The jailbreak has embarrassed the government, which is battling Islamic militants, and raised questions among its Western allies. Posted by: Dan Darling 2006-02-16 |
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