Al Eryani: Yemen alone can fight terrorism on its soil

SANA'A, Dec. 19 (Saba) - Yemen alone can fight and root out terrorism on its soil without foreign intervention, a top
Yemeni official has said.

Abdul Karim al Eryani, President Saleh's political advisor, said the U.S. asked
many times for participation in operations against al Qaeda in the country, but in
every
time the U.S. request was turned down.
The Yemeni-U.S. relations remain healthy and cordial, he said in an interview with
France 24 TV.
In reply to a question whether Yemen has become a haven for terrorism, he said
media exaggerated al Qaeda presence in Yemen.
"The problem is that militants live with their families and livestock and in this
case we can't ensure the safety of civilians if we plan to strike militants." It is
impossible
and so far away from fiction to compare the situation here to those in Pakistan and
Afghanistan whatsoever, he made clear.
Also, the separatist movement, Harak, has been greatly exaggerated and placed in a
frame larger than its own, he said replying to a question on the situation in the
south.
But we don't deny there are economic and political demands that we are dealing
with, he added.
FR