GOVERNOR: MAREB DESERT NATURE ATTRACTS AL-QAEDA MILITANTS

Edited into English by: Mahmoud Assamiee

SANA'A, Feb. 13 (Saba)- Governor of Mareb Naji al-Zayidi said
Mareb's desert nature is a reason of labeling the province as a safe
haven for al-Qaeda terrorists, asserting that they have not used
the area as a center for their operations.

He affirmed that governorate is no more than breath-taking and a
passage between other Yemeni areas and the desert linking Yemen with
Saudi Arabia. "Terrorist elements utilize Badwi nature and
generosity of the people there."

In an interview with Al Arabiya TV's program " Sena'at al-Mawt" or
Death Industry , Governor al-Zayidi refuted al-Qaeda existence in
Mareb governorate or that they are controlling wide area in the
governorate.

Over circulations that Mareb has become a safe haven to al-Qaeda
elements and that operations have been carried out from the
governorate, he admitted that al-Qaeda's existence is temporary and
sporadic. "There is a small number of al-Qaeda elements and is
unlike what they exaggerate there is big number of al-Qaeda and
locals are joining their ranks."

Even though, he said, the government and local authority in the
governorate are chasing them and the security forces have reduced
their activities. Because the area is open, these elements were
interrupting shepherds and Badwis for giving them lectures under
Islam's name but when people knew their problems and dangers, they
became disgust of their activities.

Over al-Qaeda affiliated who come from Saudi Arabia, and their focus
in Mareb and Shabwa, he said, rebel Saudi elements leave Saudi
Arabia and come to the area via the desert road linking the two
countries and met in Mareb. They use these governorates because of
their desert, the nature and generosity of locals.

He denied that there are training camps to al-Qaeda elements but
affirmed that there are tribal people affiliates with them and that
when there are intensified military actions, they return to their
senses, especially those who are not involved in action harming
security.

He talked about two kinds of al-Qaeda affiliates in Yemen, leading
elements that are brought up on al-Qaeda's doctrine and jobless
youth who are attracted by al-Qaeda and authorities could reform
most of them.

These elements monopolize the strategic location of the country on
the Red and the Arab Seas but they have become stressed more due to
successes of military forces. Because of harassment by military
forces, some may leave the area and others return to their
governorates or countries.

He talked about a group of governorates ( Abyan, Shabwa, Beidha'a,
Mareb, al-Jawf and Sa'ada) which are areas attracting terrorists
saying if al-Qaeda deploy in these areas, they will pose a danger
not only to Yemen but also to the whole region and a threat to world
interests.

Regarding sayings that Yemen sometimes slacks in dealing with
terrorists, Governor al-Zayidi says Yemen is doing its best despite
its limited capabilities but some people minify the country's
efforts and efforts of its security forces. "Despite harsh geography
of the governorate and limited potentials, Yemen and security force
are achieving considerable successes and results, nobody underrates
efforts of Yemeni government and army."

On president visit to Mareb last year and his meeting with sheikhs
in Mareb in his search for wanted elements (from al-Qaeda and
others), the governor said the president came to Mareb and obliged
us as officials and Sheikhs to deal with these elements. Praise be
to Allah, many of them surrendered and some others have been treated
by security forces. The president's visit had positive and active
results in cracking down on these elements.

Over American unmanned aerial vehicle screening the area, he was
maintained to reveal more about this but said surveillance
operations are continuing and al-Qaeda elements are pressed by these
operations and security follow up.

Regarding Ayedh al-Shabwani, the young al-Qaeda leader in Mareb, who
hosts al-Qaeda elements coming from other countries, al-Zayidi says
he is young boy his aged does not exceed 23 years. He is used by
other al-Qaeda elements, from inside and outside Yemen. They use his
farm located in a road linking the desert area from the north,
northwestern and southeastern road and from east southern road which
means his farm is open land where elements meet there but we receive
information that they leave the area after their meeting.

He further said Al-Shabwani receives from 15- 20 elements in his
farm and he may be has heavy medium weapons because of the nature of
Mareb governorate which is used by weapon merchants, drugs
traffickers and al-Qaeda elements.

In Regard to securing Mareb governorate, Governor of Mareb Naji
al-Zayidi says security needs complete support and the area needs
development, roads need to be secured. He further said young people
need work opportunities, promoting tourism and improving
infrastructure.

In regard to learning centers in Mareb, governor al-Zayidi said
there are centers receiving students from a number of countries,
Saudi Arabia, Libya, Pakistan, Iran and Somalia. But says these
centers are controlled by the government.

Over existence al-Qaeda leaders, Naser al-Wahishi, Saeed al-Shihri
and Qasem al-Raimi, al-Zayidi says these elements are not exist
permanently in Mareb but they come to the area and go from time to
time. He admitted that he has a relative affiliated with al-Qaeda
and this relative is asking the governor to surrender himself to the
authority but the governor demands insurances for this surrender.