News reports have recently indicated that the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is involved in penetrating some extremist Islamic groups in a number of Arab countries including Yemen. In a press interview last month, President Saleh stated that the Israeli Intelligence ‘Musad’ might have been involved in the USS Cole incident. James Bafti, Vice Chairman of the CIA said in a statement to Reuters last Wednesday that the USS Cole incident and the blasts of the two American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya by Islamic extremists, caused the Secret Division in the CIA to study operations under cover and undertake preventive measures against Islamic and extremist organizations’ acts. Yemen and the Arab authorities are now keeping the Islamic groups under surveillance.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh explained that the USS Cole suspects were Yemenis born in Saudi Arabia and that the boat was brought from Jizan into Hodeida before it had been taken to Aden to carry out the operation.

In a meeting held last week, the Yemeni opposition decided to unconditionally take part in the local elections and referendum on the constitutional amendments. A leading personality in the opposition said that the decision was fundamental and the parties had no other choice.
This decision came in an emergency meeting held by the Opposition Coordination Council including YSP, UPNP, Al-Haq, PFU and the National Ba’th Party. The Islah Party had announced in the second round of its general conference concluded last November that it would not take part in the local elections and the referendum unless lists of voters are amended. Last week, the Elections Supreme Committee (ESC) endorsed the schedule of referendum on the constitutional amendments and local elections scheduled for February 20 2001.
“Political parties and organizations will participate in the elections. The ESC has informed them of their shares of the electoral-field committees,” stated Mr. Alawi Al-Attas. He added that chairmen and members of the supervision committees and main committees would be received from December 31 until January 3 2001 to be trained. The names of participants will be announced on media.
A reliable source in the YSP said that the party had not been informed of its share in electoral committees.

About 1498 oil-tankers from different parts of the world anchored in Aden port since the beginning of this year until November 2000. The total volume of crude local and foreign oil unloaded in Aden port and Aden Refinery Company during the same period reached 5,436,837 tons while the total amount of oil exports and oil products run to 4,950,043 million tons.
On the other hand, it is expected that Aden and other Yemeni ports will receive by the end of December this year more than 15 tourist ships bringing thousands of tourists on board.
Two carriers coming from Singapore and Port Sudan, anchored at the container terminal in the Free Zone in Aden last week carrying hundreds of containers for unloading, loading and transit containers. There were also five carriers that reached the port last Saturday coming from Middle East and South of Aisa carrying hundreds of containers for the same purpose.
On the other hand, four tourist French yachts reached Aden coming from Paris. 3680 tourists have come to Yemen during November 2000.

Building of a large center for Al-Ga'faria Shiah is underway in Nehm Region, 50 kilometers east Sana’a. The center is composed of a mosque, classrooms and a hostel for students. This came after closure of their center, ‘Al-Kowther Islamic and Cultural Center’, and arrest and deporting of its teaching staff. Among its staff was Mr. Ala’ Addin Musawi who was supervising the center that was built in May 1999 on a permit from Ministry of Culture as a first center belonging to the Shiah in Yemen. However, this center was shut down after eight months of its being built. Sources affiliated to this notion told YT that the center aims at teaching the Yemeni youth the ethos of family of the Prophet Mohammed (Peace and Prayers be upon him), specially that, in Yemen, there are no scientific Hawzat (semi-centers) for this notion as in some Arab countries like Syria and Iran. They also mentioned that there are some Islamic groups in Yemen fighting against this notion.

Social Security and Social Affairs Minister announces the constitution of the Yemeni-Indian Friendship Association and the election of the Administration and Observation and Inspection Committee. Elections result came as follows:
The administration committee:
-Mr. Yusuf Mohsin al-Haj, chairman
-Mr. Mohammed Ali Nashwan, secretary general
-Mr. Mithaq Mohammed Abdulrab , finance officer
-Mr. Ahmad Ismail al-Bawab, public relations officer
-Mr. Habib Ismail Clural, officer
-Mr. Sameer Mohammed Abdulhaq, information officer
-Mr. Fekri Saif al-Douais, health officer
-Mr. Wafi Kaleb al-Sheibami, commercial officer
-Mr. Khalid Saeed Dahfer, academic officer
-Mr. al-Said Ahmad Gilany, member
-Mr. Amin Mohammed al-Zouaitery, Member
-Mr. Abdo Ahmed al-Subri, member

Observation and Inspection Committee:
-Mr. Mohammed Amin Derham, chairman
-Mr. Khalid Ali al-Farzai, vice chairman
-Mr. Abdullah Ahmad Abdulmajid, auditor
For further information please contact the following numbers:
Tel: 7905703 or 600302

Dear Mr. Walid Abdul-Aziz Al-Saqqaf
Despite the efforts of your newspaper (YT) in obtaining accurate information from reliable sources and its avoiding of non-random generalizations and its good reputation, we were unfortunately surprised to read in issue No. 49 dated 4\12\2000 about the shortcomings of the Yemeni charitable societies among which The Charitable Society for Social Welfare was included. However, our society is a pioneering one that achieved and is still achieving many auspicious successes in charitable domains since it was established in 1990. Your father, Late Dr. Abdul-Aziz Al-Saqqaf, may God rest him in peace, hailed our efforts on many occasions in this regard. Besides, it is enough to indicate to what Dr. Hameed Ziad Ameen, the Society’s Secretary General, said in a statement that on the first ten days of this month of Ramadan the society provided more than 1500 meals for tens of thousands of poor people and passersby and distributed quantities of dates and foodstuffs like wheat, flour, sugar, rice, oil and fast meals on 24000 families (264,772 people).
The society’s strategic charitable projects like hospitals, schools, universities and rehabilitation centers are countless. Among those projects are the centers of deaf, blind and mentally diseased people of both sexes. Here, we would like you and your reputable newspaper to pay a field visit to the society and its projects so as to get factual information.
Thank you in anticipation for publishing this reply as to maintain the ‘Right to Respond’.
Yours Sincerely

Gameel Mohammed Al-Anesy
General Manager of the Society

Republican Guard Shot Dead

Stabbing a poisonous dagger in his throat, 35-year-old Faisal Hameed Rafea bled until death last week in Al-Shaniniy market in Taiz. According to security sources the victim suffered family problems which he could not settle down.
On the same day, Mohammed Ali Qaed was found dead in his area of Al-Issaie. Informed sources asserted that the death was natural and not deliberate.
On the other hand a republican guard was shot down in a nearby village by a group of villagers trying to catch him at night. The villagers said that the victim frequented to the village at nights to tease girl students of the higher institute.

Al-Massar Center for Studies, Researches and Public Relations and in cooperation with the Yemeni Society for Political Sciences organized yesterday 17.12.2000 a discussion workshop pertaining to human rights in Islam in the headquarters of the Yemeni Society for Political Sciences. The workshop was attended by a number of politicians, diplomats, intellectuals and interested people.
Al-Massar center was established on 26.7.2000 as a non-governmental, cultural and scientific establishment. Mr. Mohammed Yahya Shunaif, the well reputed journalist, is in charge of this establishment.

The Mo’adh Quran competition was concluded in Taiz on 13th of Ramadan in which more than 30 students including 14 girls who memorized the Holy Quran participated for a week. The competition is an annual tradition organized by Mo’adh Society to serve the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah.

More than 300 employees have been fired from the Food Industries Complex (FIC), one of Al-Shaibani Group of Companies. Sources from the group said that the company announced bankruptcy owing to great difficulties facing the national industries against the overflow of smuggled products.

An information official in the Yemeni Teachers Syndicate stated in a press statement that 1250 Yemeni teachers were heading for Macca for minor hajj. The official pointed out that the Syndicate had provided all the means possible to facilitate things for the pilgrims.