Yemen losses in the millions due to French oil container attack
Yemen, Local, 12/7/2002

The Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has stated that his country has been loosing 20 million dollars per month because of the recent attack against the French oil container. An attack which was said to be carried out by al-Qaida organization. The Yemeni President renewed his call on the Yemeni youths members of this organization to leave the organization

In a speech broadcast on the occasion of Eid al-Fiter (holiday) on Thursday, the Yemeni president said that "the state's general treasury has lost a sum of USD 20 million monthly." He added these lost money would have been used to "improve the living conditions of people and serve development in the country." However, the figures stated by President Saleh exceed the declared figures.

On November 14, the Yemeni minister of transport Saed al-Yafi' indicated monthly losses estimated at 7.69 million dollars per month, while the US Department of State estimated losses at 3.8 million in one month as a result in the decrease of Yemeni revenues of the international transit movement in its ports by one half.

The Yemeni president also renewed his call he had already made by the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan to what he called the youths "the mislead youths who went to Afghanistan" during the days of the cold war at the support of the US to return back to the rightful path.

In the beginning of Ramadan, the Yemeni President called on Yemenis who are members in al-Qaida organization to declare redemption. Following September 11, 2001 attacks, Yemen launched a campaign to fighting terrorism under pressure from the USA.

The Yemeni authorities, moreover, announced arresting more 20 persons suspected to be involved in the attack against the French oil container. The attack resulted in killing one member of the ship crew.

Previous Stories:
  Two persons killed in an explosion in Sanaa   (12/5/2002)
  US embassy in Sanaa closed for security reasons   (11/7/2002)
  Yemen: Six persons suspected to be al-Qaida members killed in an explosion   (11/5/2002)

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