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Qaeda, Hawthis plan for acts of sabotage in Yemen - official

SANAA, May 19 (KUNA) -- A senior Yemeni official warned on Tuesday of acts of sabotage that could be jointly launched by Al-Qaeda Organization in the Arabian Peninsula and the local militant group of Al-Hawthis.
The terrorist acts of Al-Qaeda organization mainly target countries that lack security and stability such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia, Yemeni Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defense Affairs Rashad Muhammad Al-Alimi told reporters here.
"The organization could join hands with Al-Hawthis in wreaking havoc on Yemen and use the country as a launch pad for their terrorist acts regionally and internationally," he warned.
Al-Alimi made the remarks after Al-Qaeda leader Abu Basir Nasser Al-Wahayshi approved in an audio tape on Wednesday the militant activities in southern part of the Arabian Peninsula in a clear reference to Yemen.
"Al-Wahayshi's statements coincided with call of Abdel Malik Al-Hawthi for his followers (Hawthis) in Saada province to launch acts of sabotage. This synchronization indicates that there is a clear coordination between the two armed groups," the senior official noted.
He reaffirmed the government's firm stance against entering any dialogue with terrorists whose hands are stained with blood of innocent people.
However, he said the government is open to negotiate any issues with political forces "within the framework of the constitution of the state." The government admission of the existence of coordination between the two terrorist organizations marks a heightened sense of wariness about imminent terrorist acts, observers believe.
In late 2008, the Yemeni authorities revealed that there was what it called "an alliance between the two terrorist groups" and arrested dozens of suspected members of Al-Qaeda since then. (end) az.gb KUNA 192354 May 09NNNN