Two Qaeda militants killed in Yemen clashes: official

Posted by blog master Monday, January 4, 2010

One militant was wounded and the fighting was still going on, the official said.

"These elements are believed to be behind the threats directed to the U.S. embassy," he said.

The United States and Britain kept their embassies in Yemen closed for a second day on Monday over concerns about possible militant attacks after the failed bombing of a U.S.-bound airliner on Christmas Day.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Yemen branch of Osama bin Laden's network, has claimed responsibility for the attempt by Nigerian suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab to bomb the U.S. plane carrying 300 people.

Yemen, facing a Shi'ite Muslim rebellion in the north and separatist protests in the south, said it will not tolerate militant groups on its territory.

Western allies have sought to bolster Yemen's government for fear that al Qaeda might exploit the country's instability to launch more attacks across the globe.

Foreign Minister Abubakr al-Qirbi said in December there could be up to 300 al Qaeda militants in Yemen, some of whom may be planning attacks on Western targets.

(Reporting by Mohamed Sudam; Writing by Tamara Walid; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Angus MacSwan)
source-http://www.reuters.com