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No End to Threats Against Americans in Yemen: U.S.
WASHINGTON, June 19 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The United States said Tuesday the arrests in Yemen of people suspected in a plot to attack the U.S. embassy in Sana'a does not end threats against Americans or U.S. interests in Yemen.
"We know that there are a variety of threats in Yemen and I wouldn't assume from any particular arrests that this ends the threat," a senior U.S. official said. "It is an ongoing threat."
The official confirmed earlier reports that Yemeni authorities arrested a handful of suspected terrorists planning to attack the embassy and possibly other U.S. targets in the country.
"The Yemenis have arrested a number of people who were threatening to attack the U.S. embassy and we assume from that there was also a threat against other American facilities," the official said on condition of anonymity.
Reports from Washington and Sana'a said police in Yemen arrested at least nine heavily armed men in connection with an alleged plot to kill U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents probing the October 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Aden.
The suspects were found with hand grenades, small arms and documents, including a map of the U.S. Embassy in Sana'a, which indicated they planned to attack Americans in Yemen, according to the reports.
A senior U.S. official told the Washington Post that Yemeni authorities believe the suspects work for the Islamic Army of Aden, a group Washington says is affiliated with Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.
The FBI pulled its team out of Yemen on Sunday citing a "very real and credible threat" to its investigators.
That move drew frowns from the State Department which, despite closing the mission to the public on June 9, allowing non-essential staff there to leave and warning Americans against traveling to Yemen, has kept its diplomatic presence there.
"Our people are still there," department spokesman Richard Boucher, said Tuesday, adding, however, that heightened security precautions at the compound remained in place.
"The embassy remains closed because there is a potential threat out there in terms of terrorist activities, but our embassy people continue to work," he told reporters.
"We continue to work out there with the Yemeni government on trying to maintain a secure situation," Boucher said, noting cooperation by authorities in Yemen "has been good."
He declined comment on the arrests or on reports here that the FBI had pulled its people out of Yemen because of a dispute with U.S. ambassador to Yemen, Barbara Bodine.
Those reports have cited unidentified U.S. officials claiming Bodine refused to allow the FBI agents to carry weapons.
Boucher did intimate there was friction with the investigators.
"Our ambassador is responsible for the entire mission; all U.S. personnel who are in the country are under her authority," he said.
Bodine "has worked very hard with the FBI throughout this investigation and worked very seriously with all the U.S. officials in Yemen to make sure that their security is maintained."
He reiterated the FBI decision was "based on its own assessment of the situation," stressing that Bodine "is charged and is fully carrying out a responsibility to maintain security for all official Americans in the country."
The FBI team was probing last year's attack on the USS Cole that killed 17 U.S. sailors.
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