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| Arabia |
| Yemen Pursuing Another al-Qaida Member |
| 2003-11-26 |
| Yemeni security forces are pursuing a second top al-Qaida figure a day after arresting the alleged mastermind of the attacks on the destroyer USS Cole and a French oil tanker, government officials said Wednesday. Abu Ali al-Kandahari is one of two top al-Qaida leaders in Yemen. The other, Mohammed Hamdi al-Ahdal, was arrested by security forces that surrounded his hide-out west of the capital, San’a, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday. Four men, believed to be al-Ahdal’s security guards, were also arrested. Guess he is too important to have put up a fight. Al-Kandahari is believed to be hiding in the northern provinces of Marib and Jawf, and security forces are closing in on him, said officials. Even if they aren’t, it’s a good message to put out. He is reported to have replaced Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi in the Yemeni al-Qaida leadership after he was killed by a missile fired from a U.S. drone last year. Joined the "Hellfire" club. Saudi-born al-Ahdal, 32, has been described as the main coordinator of al-Qaida activities in Yemen, supervising the terror group’s finances, weapons smuggling and operational planning and was well-connected to other extremists in Persian Gulf countries, the official said. Need to suck his brain dry. Yemeni security officials believe he was one of the masterminds of the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Aden harbor, which killed 17 U.S. sailors, and the 2002 bombing of the French oil tanker Limburg off the Yemeni coast, which killed a Bulgarian crew member. Al-Ahdal, who is on the U.S. list of wanted terrorists in Yemen, is also accused of planning an abortive attack last year on a five-star hotel in Yemen where FBI investigators were staying. He had a $25 million dollar bounty on his head. Somebody may get a "Happy Eid al Fitr" present. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 They want to catch him before Eid al Fitr is over so they can pardon him and release him in the Spirit of Ramadan. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-11-26 3:08:26 PM |
| #3 I'm afraid I agree with Jarhead on this - I have minimal faith in the Yemenis good intentions. I'll feel a lot better if al-Ahdal ends up in our custody. |
| Posted by: Dakotah 2003-11-26 12:15:04 PM |
| #2 Jarhead - I don't think this guy's ever going to make it to prison. Can't escape if you never get anywhere where you can. Once Yemen gets through with him, I'm sure he'll be 'invited' to Gitmo for a couple of centuries. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-11-26 10:53:09 AM |
| #1 It would be fine if Yemen didn't have revolving doors installed in their prisons. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2003-11-26 10:26:07 AM |