On the Yemeni oil pipeline explosion

A tribal source in Yemen said on Sunday that Yemeni security forces cordoned off a Yemeni village on suspicions that members of its tribe had exploded the main oil pipelines in the country.

The source added that, according to press reports, Yemeni security forces also arrested several members of the Bani Jaber tribe. The source continued that the security forces intend to pressure the tribe to hand over its leader and those who carried out the recent explosion.

Later in the day, Yemeni officials said the 420 km oil pipeline, which extends from Maareb to Issa port which overlooks the Red Sea, was on Friday exposed to an attack at the point situated 100 km from Maareb. Yet, the explosion did not affect the flow of oil. The same line was exposed last year to tens of explosions carried out by tribal members.

The tribal source continued that the makers of the explosion were calling for releasing members of their tribe accused of committing previous acts of destruction.

The main part of the national income (GNP) in Yemen comes from oil exports. Yemen produces 385,000 barrels of crude oil every day.