Two AK-47 assault rifles used in a deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Saudi Arabia have been traced to Yemen's Defense Ministry, according to Western and Yemeni officials, raising new fears that the country isn't doing enough to fight terrorism. In other worrying developments, Yemeni militants are believed to be among foreigners fighting U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq, U.S. and Iraqi officials have said. Some Yemenis have even carried out suicide bombings in Iraq after their release from prison here under a government program, say Yemeni officials cited in local newspapers. Under the "dialogue" program Islamic fundamentalists are let go in exchange for renouncing violence.Despite the setbacks, the United States continues to boost its security relationship with Yemen. Last week, it delivered more boats and equipment to the country's coast guard ahead of Wednesday's fifth anniversary of the USS Cole attack. While U.S. officials publicly praise Yemen for curbing extremist groups, Western and Yemeni diplomats privately say it must do more to lock down its porous, 1,120-mile border with Saudi Arabia and prevent weapons and militant smuggling.
Yemen is awash with weapons, and strong ties exist between its military and tribal groups, which make up the backbone of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's power base. The Yemen government sometimes gives weapons to tribes to curry favor, and it is believed the AK-47 rifles in question were likely smuggled into a black market and bought by militants. Two of the AK-47 assault rifles used in the Dec. 6 militant attack on the U.S. consulate in the Saudi city of Jiddah were traced by their serial numbers back to Yemen's Ministry of Defense, a Western diplomat told The Associated Press, declining to be identified due to the sensitivity of the issue. Five consulate employees and four attackers died in the assault. The diplomat said U.S. authorities have filed protests over the incident to Yemeni officials, complaining that more should be done to safeguard weapons.