A group of 12 parliamentarians have asked interior minister Dr. Rashad al-Alimi about the Islamists detained due to suspicion of having links to al-Qaeda.
Sources in the parliament said 12 members of the parliament called the parliament president to summon al-Alimi to answer their question on legal situation of these prisoners.
They have spent several months in the intelligence prisons without having been charged.
The minister will also be questioned about 40 prisoners detained for two years in connection with the suicide bombing attack on the USS Cole on October 12, 2000. Seventeen US sailors were killed and other 39 injured in the blast.
The government of security detained a good number of suspected people; some were released. After the September 11 attacks in the U.S.A, over 500 people were arrested and interrogated. Some are still in detention without any charges. Some of them are relatives of suspected fugitives.
Advocates believed it is against law to detain people without warrants or trials.
An anonymous group calling itself “al-Qaeda sympathizers” has claimed responsibility for bombings in Sana’a during the last two months and have demanded the release of 173 detainees on charges of having links to al-Qaeda.
The group pledged more suicide attacks against some government officials if the detainees are not released.

Yemeni Foreign Minister, Dr. Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi flew to Washington DC on Saturday in an official visit to the USA.
US Vice President Dick Chenney and State Secretary, Colen Powell were among the dignitaries he was to meet.
The visit was expected to focus on Yemen’s role in the US-led war against terror along with other security-related issues in Yemen.
Al-Qirbi said he would discuss with the US officials bilateral relations and economic aspects with the aim of creating joint projects to be carried out by Yemeni and US businessmen in Yemen.
He added that he would also discuss the US economic aid to Yemen as well as the on-going security cooperation between the two countries in the war against terrorism.
Al-Qirbi was also to raise the issue of the Mideast crisis including the Arab peace initiative in the region and Yemen’s vision of this initiative.

Five people were killed and seven seriously injured in tribal revenge clashes strategy in al-Baida province.
Tribal sources in the area told Yemen Times that four persons including a women were killed last Saturday in a clashes between Bani Wahb and al-Absi tribes. The Bani Wahb attacked Absi to take revenge for one of their members who was killed last Friday by a person from Abbsi tribes.
The village of Absi was seriously damaged due to use of artilleries and other heavy weapons.
The sources predicted further destruction if the authorities in the area don’t interfere to stop the fight.
Tribal revenge has been an issue for decades, a major headache which the government has not been able to stop. It claims the lives mostly innocent people.

Abduraheem Mohsen, a well-known writer and a political analyst has disappeared.
His friends and workmates don’t know where he is.
Abdurahman Mohsen is a famous writer and deals with tremendous views and opinions against authorities, especially during in recent times.
He has been entrusted to be in charge of the employees of the presidential office.
At this moment, he hasn’t been working in his office.
He occupied the position of general manager of the media residential office.

The press and publication prosecution has completed interrogative the novelist Wajjdi Al-Ahadal. The culture ministry has accused him of insulting conventions and religion in his novel “Qwarib Jaballiah” or “Mountainous Boats”.
The ministry already ordered the confiscation of the novel and closure of the Ubadi publication center. It was accused of using obscene sexual language.
The publication center owner, Nabeel Ubadi was interrogated by the prosecution last Saturday for publishing the book.
Prime minister Abdulqader Bajamal lashed out against the novel and its writer. He said it was anti-morality, tradition and artistic creation. “A bad smell comes out the book,” he said.
Al-Ahadal protested the charge and said there were sectarian motives behind it.
It was because of using Sana’a as a setting for the novel. He pointed out that they misinterpreted his book.
The Yemeni writers union (YWU) strongly condemned the harassment of Al-Ahadal and publisher. In a statement last week they called for an end of harassment of creative people.
The statement denied that the novel insults conventions or religion, as it is a creative work that cannot be subject to specific interpretation.
Moreover, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Hashim Ali Bin Ali, is still out of his office. Bin Ali refused to sign the decision of confiscating the novel and closing down the publication center. The minister gave him two choices, either to sign the decision or stay at home and not attend the ministry.
Bin Ali, who is himself an outstanding man of letters, decided to stand by creation and preferred to stay at home.
In addition to this, a good number of intellectuals appealed in a letter to president Ali Saleh and PM Bajamal to dismiss the Culture Minister, Abdulwahab al-Rawhani. They accused the minister of working against creative people and talents, and misusing his power to gag intellectuals.
They said there was no legal reason to confiscate the book and close down the publishing center.
Al-Ahadal said that Riyadh Al-Rais, an outstanding Lebanese publisher, offered to print and publish the book when he heard about the ongoing controversy. He added that the book is already in Lebanon to be printed and distributed all over Arab countries.

The cabinet has approved last Tuesday a note presented by the finance ministry concerning the amending of the administrative unit’s budgets to ensure the establishment of the centralized authority to complete the projects. The estimated approbation of projects have reached YR 8,853,460,000.

Ashehr port has witnessed the exporting of first shipment of Yemeni crude oil to the USA which will be carried by a great tanker belongs to the British BP company.
This shipment is considered the first to shipped for the interest of American refinery after signing a contract between Canadian Nexen and BP for importing about 1 million barrel of Yemeni crude oil, $25 for barrel. Yemen is making every effort to increase it’s oil production from 475.000 to 500.000 per day by the end of 2002.

ABDUH M. ASSABRI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
From 9 June to the 13 October this year, the British Museum has reserved the recently opened Grand Court for the “Queen of Sheba: Treasures from Ancient Yemen’ exhibition which will be similar in content to the exhibition held at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris in 1997-1998 and which has since toured other European cities.
Items from the British Museum’s own collection will be included. A number of side events and activities are being organized to coincide with the exhibition. The Arabian Studies Seminar will be held at the British Museum this year from 18-20 July.
An extensive education program will accompany the exhibition. This will include an academic conference in July, a series of study days in June and September, a film program and a week of events related to the Ancient Near East in Early October.
The exhibition will begin with an examination of the Queen of Sheba in art, looking modern, 19th century and Renaissance representations. She is variously viewed as a figure of beauty and seduction, the propounder of riddles to King Solomon, (the Old Testament) a convert to Islam (the Qura’an), and precursor of the Magi (Western Christian artistic tradition)
As a result of this, A dinner party was held at the H.E. Francis Guy’s residence, the British Ambassador to Yemen. on May 22. The party was attended by the Culture Minister, Abdulwahab Arrowhani, who is expected to fly to London to participate in inaugurating the Queen Sheba Museum in London. the Chairman of the British-Yemeni Society, Abdullah Abulwali Nasher, top officials, parliamentary figures, journalists and a host of others.

The Yemeni female researcher and writer, Ebtisam al-Motawakel confirmed that the black people known as Akhdam haven’t received any due attention by their societies. “They have maltreated and marginalized . They have to be integrated and must become an integral part of our societies, education opportunities must be provided and made easily accessible to them.” Ebtesam said.
Mr. Ezzadeen al-Assbahi, the Manager of the Information Center said that the governmental and non-governmental organizations should be held accountable for turning a blind eye to such wretched marginalized classes.

A protocol between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was signed last week in the field of higher education and scientific research. The protocol includes establishing relations between Yemeni UAE universities and higher education institutions.
The protocol centers around holding conferences, seminars, delivering lectures and exchanging visiting scholars, researchers, experts and technicians in all scientific fields. It also dealt with the level of efficiency, assessing educational outcomes, developing teaching methodology.

The YUBCO vice president and the well-known businessman, Mr. Mohammed Ali Derhim had highly praised the achievements and developments in industry , trade and investment which the country witnessed during the last 12 years of the unification. in a statement to Yemen Times, Mr. Derhim said these developments were a result of the president’s strong will and his support for investors and investment as well as the political stability, security, human rights and democratic experience.
“We are so confident that future would be better and great developments in different fields have been really developed,” Derhim added.

Prime Minister Mr. Abdulqader Bajammal on Saturday open the new head quarters of Yemen International Bank located on the Zuberi Street, Sana’a.
The new building is one of the most beautifully architectured one in the capital.
Yemen International Bank was established in 1979 as a Yemeni stock company offering banking services and funding and investment opportunities.
The bank has branches in various governorates offering distinguished banking services through depending on cooperation with international banking expertise.
The Yemeni share in it amounts to 75 percent, while the Saudi share is 25 percent.

BY FAHMIA AL-FOTIH
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
The German parliamentary delegation headed by member of the German Social Democratic Party Gunter Gloser left Sana’a Saturday wrapping up a week-long visit to Yemen.
Upon departure the head of the German delegation expressed to Sabaa news agency his and the accompanying delegation satisfaction over the visit and the positive results reached. The results would contribute to consolidate contacts between the Yemeni and German parliaments and the Yemeni-German Friendship Association. Head of the delegation also praised the development the Yemeni democratic experiment is leading. The delegation was seen off at the airport by member of the Shoura Council Mohammed al-Taieb.
The German parliamentary delegation visit coincided with a visit by the German-Yemeni friendship association.
Frederish Ebert Shiftung, GTZ, Homer forum and so forth are German associations that no one can deny the big role that they have played to support Yemen’s health, education, business and economy for curbing poverty.
A seminar that was held in Yemeni-German hospital , attended by many intellectuals and senior officials from both sides. Both Yemeni and German friendship associations have played remarkable roles for strengthening these relations between Yemen and Germany.
‘’The Yemeni-German relations have known a love story for a long time.’’ that is how ex- minister of health Mr. Abudallah Abdulwali Nasher described the close relations between the two countries. More than 500 children, who have lost hope in being taken care of in the country, are sent by the Homer forum to Germany and they were treated there successfully
Through the seminar Yemeni participants talked about their experience in German as well as friendliness of the German people.
The minister of development and planning Mr. Ahmed Sofan shed light on various aspects of cooperation between Yemen and Germany at all levels.
Germany has broken Yemen’s internal isolation by constructing most of the roads linking the governorates as well as the external isolation by establishing and building Sana’a Airport, he said.
It was a good opportunity for the first founders of two associations to praise the performance and stage of collaboration between Yemen and German.
Finally, doctors of the Yemeni German hospital expressed their acknowledgment to Germany and German people as they consider this hospital a unique sign and step forward in cooperation between the two countries.

Focusing on the latest wireless means of telecommunications, Alfa Company held a workshop in collaboration with Biodata Middle East at the Sheraton Sana’a Hotel on May 21.
The latest telecommunication apparatus was shown and explained.
The organizers of the workshop included Alfa Company General Manager Hussien M. Alrasheedi, Mr. Albrecht, chairman of the Swiss Albrecht Technology and Mahmoud Namer and Adnan Alawna, both of the German Biodata Company, Middle East branch in Dubai.
Products of the companies were shown and explained by Mr. Albrecht. He explained how effectively they can be used in maintaining the absolute security for government and personal telecommunications.
The latest telecommunications equipment includes voice ciphering units, Ripol police information systems and observation transceivers designed for crime-fighting.
The workshop was attended by military-men, pressmen and those interested in wire and wireless telecommunications, and representatives of telecommunications institutions like High Institute for Telecommunications.

A new board for Aden shipping conference was elected last week. It was presided by Mr. Abdulkareem .A.Shibani while Mr. Hussinn Atef and Mr. Aidaroos Al Essa were elected as vice president and Mr. Sameer Alqassim as general secretary. Marine field workers are looking for ward for a nice future within the new staff.

In a meeting held at the Kana’an Association for Palestine (KAP) last week, Palestinian students’ concerns and problems at Yemeni universities were discussed.
Meanwhile Mr. Yahya Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, the Chairman of the KAP and Dr. Sa’adi AL-Kurunz, the Minister of Industry and Commerce had met up with Palestinian Embassy Counselor and Mr. Gammal Abdalwassi’ Hayel Saeed, a prominent businessman and member of parliament.
At the end of the meeting, a media committee to boycott Israeli products was formed. The Palestinian Industry Minister highly praised the leading role played by President Ali Abduallah Saleh with a view of supporting the Palestinians which was clearly seen in his brave attitudes. A meeting between the Yemeni-Palestinian businessmen was primarily focused on the supporting the Palestinian products.