Saleh: Yemen will continue hunt for al-Qaeda without leniency

SANA'A, March 27
(Saba) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh has said that Yemen's decision to hunt for
al-Qaeda came
early because the country believes that terrorism represents a danger to its
security, stability and development.
Al-Qaeda also poses a threat to Yemen's ties with its neighbors and friends, Saleh
said in an interview with the BBS station.
Yemen will continue to pursue al-Qaeda suspects until they surrender or they were
killed, he said.
However, the president said that the door remains open for those want peace and are
determined to drop violence.
'We did not close the dialog door because dialog is crucial to deal with all
problems. We don't want violence and when terrorist suspects surrender we should
be cooperative,'
said President Saleh.
On the other hand, he said that there are no U.S. troops on the Yemeni soil because
there are no reasons for their presence in the country.
I want to assure the Yemeni people and the world that we never signed any deal
allowing a U.S. presence in Yemen, Saleh told the station.
Moreover, President Saleh said that all what has been said about corruption in
Yemen is groundless and comes within the aggressive campaign against the Yemeni
regime, Saleh
said. If there are donors who gave aid that went into the pockets of officials, they
just come out and speak, he said.
In reply to the U.S. advice for Yemen, the president said that Yemen appreciates
the U.S. cooperation and interest in resolving its problems, affirming Yemen
further welcomes
the U.S. in the country.
On the U.S., he said Yemen-U.S. ties are deep rooted and the two countries have a
good partnership in the fight on terror or to boost development. He also touched
upon
the issue of the Yemeni Gitmo detainees saying that the government is constantly
contacting the U.S. authorities to speed their release.
FR