Yemeni President Promises Early Release and Unrestricted Travel to Imprisoned al-Qaeda in Exchange for Truce
President Saleh of Yemen has entered into direct negotiations with representatives of convicted and suspected al-Qaeda operatives. If the militants renounce attacks within Yemen, they will be allowed unmonitored travel within Yemen and unrestricted travel outside the country. Demands of jobs and early releases for those in jail apparently have been met, the latest in a long string of appeasements by the Yemeni regime. (In February, 23 al-Qaeda operatives escaped prison including several implicated in the Cole bombings. Of the nine were back in custody by May, eight were re-released by the regime.) |