AL-ANESI: MANHUNT FOR AL-AWLAKI WILL CONTINUE IN YEMEN

SANA'A, May 23 (Saba) – Yemen will continue the manhunt for Anwar
al-Awlaki, a most wanted terrorist, until he is arrested or he
surrenders, head of the National Security System has said.

We can't arrest someone based on just accusations but after the
authorities found out the man was involved in terrorism, the search
for him was expanded, Ahmed al-Anesi, who is also director of the
Presidency Office, said.

He affirmed that the war against al-Qaeda across the country is
continuing directly and indirectly.

Moreover, al-Anesi pointed to the botched suicide attack that
targeted the UK's ambassador to Yemen in late last month, saying the
attack was a desperate attempt of al-Qaeda which has received
devastating blows during terror operations in the south and north.

Some suspects involved in the attack were arrested and
investigations are ongoing.

Yemen has not been and never will be a safe haven for terrorists,
however, Yemen remains a strong and active ally in the war on
terror, he said, adding that nothing can make Yemen swerve from
fighting terrorism and extremism or can affect its relations with
other countries.

Anwar al-Awlaki, who was born in New Mexico of Yemeni origin, is
wanted by the U.S. following the failed attack on a U.S.-bound
passenger jetliner on Christmas Day last year by Nigerian Omer
Farouk Abdulmutallab.

Recently, the U.S. has said that the man was wanted dead or alive,
but Yemen insists he is now a terrorist wanted by the national
authorities.

Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi has recently said that the man
should be tried, once he is captured, in his homeland after he was
found involved in terrorist activity.

FR