The International Conference on New and Restored Democracies was concluded last Wednesday in Benin. More than 110 countries and a number of non-governmental organizations took part in the 3-day conference under the theme 'Peace, Security, Democracy and Development.'
Yemen participated in the event with a high ranking delegation that included Dr. Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi, head of the delegation, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Adhofi from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Yahia Hunaish from the President's Office. One of the most important issues highlighted by the Yemeni delegation was the Palestinian cause and stress was put on considering Palestine as one of the democratic countries. The delegation also offered hosting the Fifth Conference scheduled for 2003 in Yemen. Although Mongolia expressed interest to host the fifth conference Yemen's suggestion is likely to be more welcomed. The suggestion is expected to be discussed and decided by the General Assembly of the United Nations to decide.

Yemenis interrogating into the USS Cole bombing in Aden, October 12, headed for the Jordanian Capital to check information on Raid Hijazi, of Palestinian origin, who was extradited last week to Amman by Syrian police.
Sources said that the Yemeni interrogators left Sana'a last Friday to gather information about investigations carried out by the Jordanian police with hijazi who is believed to have been involved in training Cole bombers.
Yemen and Jordan signed a security agreement four years ago concerning fighting terrorism, exchange of information and extradite of criminals from both sides.
Files of the six suspects in the Cole bombing were sent last Thursday back to police from the prosecution where they were before for further investigations, which the American investigators insist on.
Meanwhile, official sources declared that the police identified the main suspect in the bombing named Mohammed Omar Al-Harazi, from Haraz east of Sana'a and it is now launching a huge manhunt in Yemen and outside. The police said Mohammed Al-Harazi main mastermind and financer of the bombers. Yemeni interrogators expected that the process of search for the suspects will widen to includes other suspects. This means that the investigation process will take longer time and wider range including persons thought to be somewhere outside Yemen.
Sources in Aden said that Al-Harazi was living in the UAE and that he used to visit Aden, although he disappeared four days before the bombing. He is thought to have to an anonymous residence outside Yemen.
This development, may reveal further details about the case and the people behind the explosion. It is worth mentioning that around 35 suspects are still under arrest by the political Security Office.

The Eastern Court of Ibb ordered last week to burn 5400 sacks of flours presented as an American Aid to Yemen after it has been proved unsuitable for human consumption. However, the Economic Corporation seems to refuse the orders.
Informed sources in Ibb said that some flour sacks had been distributed to bakeries and that so many people were complaining about the quality of bread.
Mrs. Donna Visocan, the American Economic and Commercial Attaché in the American Embassy, in Sana'a has largely put blame on the Yemeni authorities regarding the spoiled flour. In a meeting with vice chairman of the Yemeni Society for Consumer's Protection, Mr. Hamoud Al-Bukhaity, she said that it was the carelessness in storing the flour that spoiled it. She added that Yemen had the right to reject any shipment if it was spoiled.
Informed sources revealed that some influential people in the Economic Corporation are trying to sell the shipment while false reports about burning it are being registered.

Two soldiers were injured in gun shooting confrontations last Thursday in Serwah - Mareb. The soldiers were from the Mechanized Brigade 25 stationed in Serwah. The confrontations occurred because one of Jahm tribesmen was prevented from passing through the check-point of the Brigade as he was not holding an ID. This led to a quarrel between him and the soldiers who fired at his car. A group of tribesmen attacked the check-point with weapons and bazookas wounding the two soldiers after which they were taken to the Military Hospital in Mareb. It is worth mentioning that the region is witnessing continuous confrontations between tribesmen and military forces that led to killing and injuring many people.