Yemeni official regret behavior of US ambassador

Meetings held by the American ambassador in Sanaa Edmond Hall during the two past days with chieftains of tribes in Mareb province raised the regret of the Yemeni officials, especially as the meetings came following a campaign launched by the official Yemeni papers against the American diplomat describing him as a "higher commissioner." The ambassador has been accused of breaking diplomatic norms by his behaviors.

A well- informed Yemeni source said that most of the meetings were "outside the official program of ambassador Hall to the province and were made without prior coordination with the Yemeni authorities." The source said that the "governor of Mareb is very worried over the visits and meetings held by the American ambassador," noting that the position taken by the governor is not "different from that of the authorities in Sanaa which showed the same regret towards the behavior of ambassador Hall."

Earlier on Wednesday, the American embassy in Sanaa said that ambassador Edmond had visited Mareb where he laid the foundation stone for a new health center which belongs to the ministry of health, and is partially financed by an American company. He also visited the presidential palace in Mareb city,

The American government showed great interest in the provinces in the central areas, which includes in addition to Mareb each of Shebwa and al-Jouf provinces, which are thought to be an appropriate place to the activities of pro al-Qaida organization elements led by Osama Bin Laden.

The question of development and improving life standards in these provinces, where on Tuesday the Yemeni president inaugurated the first phase of an intensive security deployment for fighting terrorism, won great interest during the talks held between the American and Yemeni officials.