Yemeni protestors were among tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Arab capitals last week to protest against a possible U.S. war on Iraq, labeling President Bush a "butcher" and his administration "arrogant."

In the Yemeni capital, leaders from the ruling and opposition political parties led tens of thousands from a main square to the U.N. office to deliver a message demanding the world body step in to prevent the war.
"'No' to an attack on Iraq. 'No' to American arrogance," one banner read.
The head of Yemen's Islamist opposition Islah Party Sheikh Abdullah al-Ahmar slammed what he called the "blood suckers" in the U.S. administration who are pushing for war.
"Those who are amassing fleets, speak with arrogance and their aim is to destroy Iraq's ... achievements and to control its oil which is making the blood suckers in the U.S. administration drool," Ahmar said.
Ahmar described the possible war as 'immoral' and said that "the Zionist, American and British war is because of oil, it is oil that makes those vampires salivate.''
The protest organisers termed the move as "a return of colonialism and means for taking the oil."
The demonstrators carried placards saying: Aggression on Iraq is terrorism itself, war on Iraq is return of the colonialism, the attack targets the Ummah's resources and its faith, strike on Iraq is strike on one billion Muslims.
They demanded that the Arab leaders open the doors of jihad. "Open the doors of jihad, rulers," they chanted.
After nearly 45 minutes of fiery speeches, the Yemeni protesters headed to the UN office in Sanaa where they delivered a petition requesting 'the stopping of the American and British aggression on Iraq'.
Abdulkareem al-Iryani, political advisor to President Saleh, denounced the potential attack and said "no to the enemies of peace " - the US, Britain and their allies.
While demonstrators carried banners that contained phrases refusing war and appealing for peace, there were no pictures of Saddam Hussein.
People also demonstrated outside United Nations offices in Syria and Bahrain hours before a deadline for a report by U.N. arms inspectors on Iraq's cooperation in their hunt for weapons of mass destruction.
Also in India's financial capital, Bombay, about 1,000 protesters against war on Iraq shouted anti-American slogans as they marched through the crowded streets, blocking traffic.
Demonstrators in Damascus gathered outside the U.N. office where they chanted slogans, calling Bush a "criminal and a butcher" and demanding he ditch his "plan" to attack Iraq.
"We sacrifice our souls and blood for Iraq," chanted young demonstrators. "America wants to dominate us, it wants to weaken us and to destroy Iraq to control its oil," said student Housam Halabi, echoing a view shared by many Syrians and Arabs.

Give peace a chance
Most Arab countries oppose a war against Iraq fearing it would further destabilize the Middle East, and advocate instead a peaceful solution to the crisis over Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction. Iraq denies having any such weapons.
The protests come at a time of heightened anti-U.S. sentiment among ordinary Arabs already angry at what they see as Washington's blind support for Israel which is battling a Palestinian independence uprising.
The arms inspectors' report to the Security Council is seen as crucial for any U.S. attack on Iraq. Baghdad says it hopes the report will confirm it is free of banned weapons and find its cooperation with the inspections was "super."
In the Bahraini capital, Manama, about 100 youths asked the U.N. to prevent the United States from launching a war on Iraq.
Carrying banners saying "'No' to war in Iraq" and "Death to America," they delivered a letter asking the United Nations to fight poverty and illiteracy rather than provide authorization for a war on Iraq.
"We are asking for peace and we want the United Nations to hear our pleas to save the Iraqi people," said 20-year old civil engineering student Ebtisam Al Shenoo, standing underneath blood red banners and fluttering Iraqi flags.
"We want to reach them (the United Nations) before they make any decision," marketing student Nidhal al-Qassab told Reuters, adding that he hoped the United Nations will prevent a war.
"If the United Nations doesn't have the power (to do that) then there is no reason for it to exist."

World leaders divided
Meanwhile, world leaders counseled restraint while others called for condemnation as U.N. weapons inspectors reported to the Security Council on efforts to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.
The United States, Britain and Australia condemned Saddam for failing to cooperate with the inspection process and indicated that time for action was drawing close.
"We made it very clear ... that we could not allow the process of inspection to string us on forever,'' said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
On Friday Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi condemned Iraq for failing for more than a decade to carry out its obligations under United Nations resolutions.
"Iraq needs to fulfill U.N. resolutions and completely wipe out the concerns among the international community," Kawaguchi told the Diet. "(Iraq) is challenging the authority of the U.N."
But other Security Council members, most importantly Russia, China and France, said the inspections should continue for several weeks, if not months. That difference of opinion could make or break international support for military intervention in Iraq.
Outside U.N. headquarters in New York, more than 300 protesters demonstrated against a possible war in Iraq, chanting "people united stop the war.''
In Germany, about 3,000 people protested outside the U.S. consulate in Frankfurt, carrying banners with slogans including "No Bush-fire'' and accusing the United States of going to war over oil. Hundreds more gathered in downtown Dresden and in Berlin.
In his report to the Security Council Monday, Blix, who heads the hunt for biological and chemical weapons programs, said Iraq had not genuinely accepted the U.N. resolution demanding that it disarm.
His nuclear inspection counterpart ElBaradei said there was no evidence so far that Iraq was reviving its nuclear program and said inspectors needed a "few months'' to complete the search.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Saddam was "making a charade of inspection'' and was "practicing concealment.''
Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Iraq was in "material breach.'' Australia is one of only three nations _ along with the United States and Britain _ to have sent troops to the Persian Gulf region to prepare for possible war with Iraq.
Elsewhere, however, there was little appetite for military action.
Jordanian Information Minister Mohammad Affash Adwan said the inspectors should be allowed to finish their mission in Iraq.
Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said the responsibility to avoid war lay with Iraq, but called for a new Security Council resolution before military action was taken.
"It's very important for us,'' said Gul, whose predominantly Muslim nation is a close U.S. ally.
Norway and Canada's leaders both echoed calls for more time, while New Zealand, called on Baghdad to cooperate more fully with U.N. inspectors.
The European Union is split down the middle on the issue, with Spain, Italy, Portugal and others leaning toward the pro-American camp led by Britain, while Belgium, Sweden and Finland are more closely aligned with France and Germany's anti-war stance.
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder agreed Monday that the inspectors should be given the time they need to complete their mission, thepresident's office said.
Earlier Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the need to continue weapons inspections during a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Iraq insisted it had done everything it could to aid in the hunt for banned arms programs.

While Yemen joined protests this week against a possible U.S.-led strike on Iraq, The Yemen Times interviewed Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Abubakr Al-Qirbi to ask him what such a strike might mean for the region. Following is his response, along with other questions and responses to Yemen's relationship with the U.S., it's fight on terrorism, and a range of other issues dealing with Yemen foreign affairs.

Q: How do you see the near future, especially the threat of attack on Iraq?
A: What does not kill you only makes you stronger. We are wishing that we come out of these difficult times a better nation and a part of a better world as a whole.
The fact is that there are forces in and outside the country working in opposite directions.. Only sometimes these concepts get mixed up and fall under cover.
There are signs that the Arab leaders are determined to fixing (internal and external) situations and face the challenges. However the common man is depressed that could lead to angry reactions, so it has become difficult to forecast the future.
As for the Iraqi case, we are defiantly against any attack on Iraq, but power points in the Pentagon surely are pushing in the direction of war. The situation is critical and all efforts are needed to direct it to a peaceful end.
Q: Would there be a rearranging of the Arab region if the attack on Iraq does happen?
A: There are many scenarios with all its possibilities, however these are only predictions. A situation like what we are living in today could easily change from one moment to another. It's like you are walking through a minefield - you don't know what and when something would explode. But in all cases I have to emphasize that attack on Iraq would defiantly destabilize the area. Any foreign invasion on the Iraqi land or regime or people will only make things worse.

Q: Yemen has faced several terrorist incidents that caused the country great losses. While the government had declared its commitment in combating terrorism, how do you explain the synchronization on the regional and international level?
A: Yemen's stance against terrorism is quite clear. We condemn all terrorist acts and confirm our total cooperation in combating it, in and outside the country. We well understand that stability is in our favor and violence and the like is defiantly going to harm the country.
Throughout history violence had lead to more violence and fighting between the nations leads only to destruction and loss. Yemen is committed to the international agreements it signed.
As for the synchronization, Yemen is working on two fronts. The first is concerned with exchange of information between the different security offices in a number of countries. And the other is concerned with the local security situation, through training and establishing of qualified terrorist combating forces, as well as extra protection in the borders especially the coastal areas, to prevent misuse of the Yemen land.

Q: Cooperation between Yemen and the USA, did it go through a low phase after the CIA drone missile attack in November on six al-Qaeda suspects. What about the consequences of the murder of the American aid workers in Jibla?
A: Cooperation between the two countries is ongoing and is moving forward in a normal way under the international agreements and laws. It is true that the Jibla incident reflected the ugly face of terrorism. These aid workers had lived in peace in the country for more than 30 years, and their murder only made it clear how important it is to fight terrorism in the country. The government is more determined in eliminating these negative elements of society. The country has faced a lot so far from them and will not stay silent.

Q: There is a number of Yemenis who are still in custody at the Cuba base, after the September 11th attack. What has come over those?
A: Still the same, and we like other concerned countries are continuously demanding their submission to Yemen to take them to court according to Yemeni laws. Yemen has proved that it is one of the countries most concerned for its people and their safety and their release from the countries in which they are arrested in. But it has to be known that they are a part of many from various countries who were arrested for the same reasons.

Q: The Trio-summit between Yemeni, Ethiopia, and Sudan held recently in Sana'a has showed cooperation between the three countries. Why did Eritrea receive this summit with annoyance?
A: Yes, the meeting has reflected the good relations between the three countries and their political, economical and security cooperation in order to establish stability in the region.
Eritrea's reaction had no bases at all, because the summit is a natural consequence of the developing relations between the three countries.
Leaders of the summit and especially president Ali Abdulla Saleh had announced that this summit has nothing against Eritrea and the country in fact carries good feelings for Eritrea.
Also the disagreement between the three countries and that country should be solved with negotiation and dialogue. In this respect we are trying to bring the viewpoints together and also trying to establish peace in Somalia as well, so that the whole region is in stable conditions.
Yemen is a part of this region and is concerned that all countries in it are in stable conditions and fine, for it continuously suffers from anything that happens in them, for example the endless flood of refugees from Somalia.

Q: Being minister of foreign affairs, you are responsible for the safety and conditions of the Yemenis abroad who have been arrested, such as Sheiek Al-Moued in Germany and before him the Yemeni businessman, Abdulsalam Al-Heela. What have you done in their cases?
A: We are still on their case and our efforts are continuously being spent in order to release them. And we are doing this under the umbrella of international laws and the UN agreements.

Q: President Ali Abdulla Saleh paid a visit to Russia and in which he made contracts to buy weapons. Is it an introduction to new economic cooperation between the two countries?
A: Yes, Yemen strives to create good economic cooperation with Russia and all other countries.
Economic relations are a part of all relations in general and it is in the country's interest to maintain good overall relations with its friendly countries. However the visit was not only for the weapons. It also took the regional and international issues in discussion, and Russia is an influential country and one of the great five, so it is important to create good bonds with it.

Q: Yemen's government is being criticized for buying expensive military hardware, whereas at the same time it is requesting donations and aid from other countries in order to face the economic situation. How do you explain that?
A: These are exaggerations and they don't have an accurate base. The country needs to defend itself and the weapons are used for defense. And if you want to compare, then you might as well compare how much the country spends on its defense against what other countries are spending. Yemen has all rights to ensure the safety of its people and sovereignty over its land.

Q: The Israeli interfering in the Red Sea area's policies was that one of the topic discussed in the summit. Explain.
A: Of course the main topics which were discussed took up all the concerns of the three countries. Naturally the Israeli interfering in the region was one of those topics. Israel always tries to make use of any conflicts in the area, and we all have to be aware and careful of this aspect. So all the Arab countries should join in efforts to stand against this interfering. Israel wants to control the Red Sea, but if that happens the stability of the whole region will be at stake.

Q: Relation with the GCC has seen a recent development especially after the joining of Yemen to some of the council's establishments. Recently also an agreement has been signed. So what next? Must Yemen fulfill some conditions before it is given the green light?
A: Geographically, culturally and strategically Yemen is a part of the GCC, so naturally it is heading to be a part of it politically. And Yemen is qualified to join as an economic market and rich force for manpower, as well as a military force that can serve in providing defense.
However on the down side we need to be qualified economically. And this is what Yemen is doing now with assistance of the GCC.
The agreement states that the gulf has come over all the political differences and that they will help in improving Yemen's economical situation. But this partnership needs a lot of working and struggling to make it successful, from both governmental and nongovernmental sectors. Yemen's joining in some of the establishment is a first mile of the road, and we still have to walk it to the end.

Yemeni authorities arrested Wednesday the son-in-law of Sheikh Abdulamajeed al-Zindani in connection with the assassination of the YSP leader.
Reliable sources said that Abdulsalam Al-Hariri, married to one of the Zindani's daughters was arrested by intelligence after being interrogated by the prosecution.
The prosecution summoned al-Kamil to be questioned in connection with the assassination of Jralallah Omar, YSP's Assistant Secretary General after his name was mentioned while interrogating the assassin, Ali Jarallah.
He was taken by the intelligence after the prosecution interrogated him.
Al-Kamil studied in Saudi Arabia during the 1980s and he was married to al-Zandani's daughter during the early 1990s.
The authorities have already arrested a number of people on charges of having links with the killers of Omar and the US aid workers in Jibla.
YSP sources also said that the casefile of their leader's assassination has been returned to the intelligence for further investigation.
The killer as well as the other suspects are being now interrogated again by the intelligence.
The case was already given to the prosecution for completing investigation and then trial, but the YSP refused that and demanded a more thorough investigation that can disclose the compliance of the killer.
The prosecution has accepted socialist lawyers' probe into the investigation reports and were even given copies of them.
Yet, the YSP said that these reports are not complete and more are desired. It said these reports need time to be studied.

Yemeni forces were still imposing a watch, as of Feb. 1, on a medical clinic where an al-Qaeda suspect is receiving treatment in Marib.
Mohammed Ali Al-Zaidi, 34, was seriously injured Jan. 29 after clashes with security men in Marib.
Al-Zaidi killed one soldier and injured another while one of his relatives named Ghalib al-Zaidi was wounded.
Al-Zaidi was then hospitalized to al-Wasit clinic in Marib where he is under the watch of the security.
Meanwhile, the tribes of Jiham and Murad have refused to let the Yemeni authorities take their man and threatened they would fire at the security men if they decide to take him by force.
Tribal sources in Marib told The Yemen Times the situation is very tense as the Jiham tribe requested the support of Murad tribe to defend their man.
The government announced Jan. 30 that al-Zaidi was arrested. It has accused him of kidnapping the German Commercial Attaché, Rainer Burns, July 2001 and considers him as one of the most dangerous people wanted for justice.
It said al-Zaidi who came from Afghanistan is organized meeting for extremists.
Meanwhile, security men are still searching for a kidnapped man from Sanhan.
Sources in Marib said these forces have bombed some houses to pressure the kidnappers from al-Zaidi's clan to release the hostage who is the son of a key military person.
The kidnappers snatched their hostage from Sana'a two weeks ago to blackmail the government to pay them compensation for the damage caused to their houses by the military during the time of the kidnapping of the German diplomat.