SANAA, 14 Dec -- Justice Minister Dr. Ghazi al-Aghbari Monday said in a meeting with a delegation from Human Rights Watch that “security agencies in Yemen operate within the bounds of the law and don’t detain anyone unless he was convicted on criminal charges,” adding “we in Yemen have a comprehensive legislative system to regulate life hence whenever anyone or any group violates the law, security authorities take legal action.”  He denied reports of detaining peaceful protesters saying “only those involved in looting, burning cars and shops are detained,” adding “anyone taking part in peaceful protests won’t be touched.”  He said protesters holding up separatist flags or anti-unity slogans “commit a crime punishable by death,” stressing “judges in Yemen are clean and independent.”

SANAA, 13 Dec -- Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Abdul-Karim al-Arhabi Sunday signed an agreement with Country Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), Gian Carlo Cirri to extend the period of providing humanitarian assistance and emergency relief to people displaced by the war in north Yemen.  The agreement called for extending assistance period until June 2010 during which the WFP is expected to provide  assistance to more than 30,000 children under the age of five, the state official news agency, Saba reported.  Al-Arhabi hailed the WFP’s assistance to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sadaa and emphasized the “government is keen to contain the humanitarian implications of the war.”  For his part, Gian Carlo Cirri said the WFP is willing to continue providing aid for the IDPs and to boost government’s efforts in the field of food security.

SANAA, 12 Dec -- The London-based Saudi daily, al-Sharq al-Awsat Saturday quoted “high ranking sources in Sanaa,” as saying “Yemen’s Foreign Minister Abu-Baker al-Qirbi who arrived in Kuwait on Saturday is carrying two letters from President Ali Abdullah Saleh to the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” adding “the letters contain four main points: the war in Sadaa and the development in south Yemen, al-Qaeda growing activities, economic challenges Yemen is facing and Yemen’s renewed call for joining the GCC as a full member.”  Meanwhile, Egyptian sources Saturday told al-Sharq al-Awsat that “a number of intelligence agencies in the region have found out that a secret meeting was recently held by an official at Iran’s revolutionary guards, some Hezbollah leaders and Houthis,” adding “the meeting was held in Yemen.”  In other news, police in the northeastern province of Marib was put on high alert and security measures were tightened around tourist, security and vital installations in the region fearing an attack by al-Qaeda to avenge the arrest of two of their comrades a day before.

SADAA, 12 Dec -- Hundreds of Shiite rebels late Saturday launched an offensive against the military in the north city of Sadaa in a bid to seize control of the city and ease military pressure on fellow rebels inside Sadaa, the pro-government Naba News website said citing sources.  “A few minutes after sunset, hundreds of Houthi rebels began an attack on the city of Sadaa from the north, west and east,” said Naba News, adding “fierce clashes were reported around the premises of the city in the areas of Mahda, al-Maqash, Ronh al-Maqash, Mazara al-Hosseini and near the republican palace ... the first group of Houthi fighters was totally annihilated.”  Meanwhile, the defense ministry website, 26-September Saturday cited sources as saying “the armed and security forces dealt heavy blows to the rebels in several regions in Sadaa,” adding “the heroic fighters destroyed a number of terror hideouts in the region of Matara including arms storages and shops used for producing landmines and explosives.”  “The military stopped an attempt by the rebels to sneak into al-Tabab and Nofan posts and forced them to flee dragging their dead behind them,” said 26-September, adding “security forces have tightened the besiegement of Houthi cells in the old city of Sadaa.”