SANAA, 30 Jul -- In an audio recording posted on Islamist websites on Thursday, al-Qaeda wing in Yemen claimed responsibility for a spate of attacks against security forces in Yemen and threatened more.  Addressing intelligence agencies in the country, the statement said the wing was forming an army of 12,000 strong men in the south, adding “this darkly-blooded message is addressed to the officers and soldiers of the Political Security Organization and the National Security Agency ... by God our menacing swords are pointed and by God’s leave, we intend to cleanse earth of your filth and harm.”

SANAA, 12 Jul -- In a statement at the end of its 10th annual conference, the Arab nationalist party, the Nasseritte Unionist Party Monday called for uncovering secrecy behind the assassination of president Abrahim al-Hamdi saying “people still want to know the truth and there is no justification for keeping the investigations surrounding his assassination secret after 33 years.”  The statement urged the ruling party to “answer calls for political reform,” and emphasized the “significance of the rescue document prepared by the national committee of dialogue,” and appealed to its members and sympathizers to “intensify peaceful democratic struggle and rallies in the face of  the state’s corruption, injustice, and oppression.”

SANAA, 12 Jul -- The Yemeni Center for Strategic Studies published on Monday its annual study on US, Yemeni relations saying “over the past three years, the United States’ concern about the democratic progress and huma rights in Yemen has clearly regressed and instead more focus was given to the security and military files,” adding “as a result of the lack of US support, the democratic experience in Yemen witnessed a setback, froze and led the political powers in the country to agree on the postponement of the parliamentary elections for two years.”

SANAA, 12 Jul -- Freelance journalist Abdulillah Hidar Shaya who specializes in al-Qaeda reporting Monday said after his release “I was kidnapped by the security services,” adding “they interrogated me for five continuous hours in a bedroom somewhere in a villa near the Political Security Organization in the capital,” News Yemen website said.  He said “I was blindfolded and handcuffed during the entire interrogation session and they asked me about my statements to several newspapers, TV channels and international news agencies regarding al-Qaeda network”

SANAA, 03 Jul -- The Saudi military delegation headed by the commander of the southern region in the Kingdom, Brig. Gen. Ali Bin Zayd Khoaji left Yemen on Saturday following a few day visit, Marib Press website said.  Before departure, Gen. Khoaji told reporters “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen to see Yemen secure, stable and united,” and praised “the brotherly ties between the Kingdom and Yemen.”

SANAA, 03 July -- Prominent arms dealer, Faris Manna who was released early May after three months in custody on charges of supplying the Shiite rebels in north Yemen with weapons urged on Thursday President Ali Abdullah Saleh to “stop the violations of the National Security Organization (NSA) against detainees,” adding “many prisoners explained to me the torture they were subjected to and this is shameful and not accepted by our customs and traditions.

AMRAN, 03 July -- Zaydi Shiite rebels in north Yemen Friday blew up an old house in the region of Magam Aziz in Harf Sufian killing three people, the ministry of interior said in a statement posted on its website.  The house is owned by pro-government chieftain, Sheik Sageer Aziz and the statement said “the crime committed by the Houthis killed Ghilan Salah Musfer, al-Mantaser Abu-Risha and Ali Yahya Jabran,” and described the attack as an “act of sabotage,” adding “Interior Minister Rashad al-Masri has directed security officials in Amran to file a detailed report on the incident.”

SANAA, 28 May -- The United Nations warned on Friday that a severe lack of funding for its humanitarian operations in Yemen was threatening food programmes for vulnerable children, al-Adwa Net reported.  Spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Elizabeth Byrs said 30 percent of severely malnourished children and pregnant women in Yemen were no longer receiving aid, adding “some 50,000 displaced and refugee children risk losing their assistance over the summer if money was not found.”  According to UN statistics, donors have given only 28 percent of the $177.0 million requested for aid in Yemen and a note from OCHA said underfunding has forced humanitarian agencies in Yemen to significantly reduce their activities across all sectors.  In related news, the French embassy in Sanaa Thursday said in a press release the French government has allocated $186.0 thousand for the non-governmental agency Triangle to fund its emergency relief programme for internally displaced persons in al-Mazraq camp in Hajja province.