Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced on Monday the dismantling of a "terrorist cell" which he said was linked to Israeli intelligence services. "A terrorist cell was arrested five days ago and will be referred to the judicial authorities for its links with the Israeli intelligence services," Saleh was quoted as saying by the official Saba news agency.
He said the group operated under the "slogan of Islam." The Yemeni president made the statement during a meeting with politicians, security and military officials, and tribal leaders at Al-Mukalla University in the eastern province of Hadramawt.
Saleh did not say how many people were arrested or give details on their alleged links to Israeli intelligence. "Details of the trial will be announced later," he told the gathering. "You will hear about what goes on in the proceedings," Saleh said, urging Yemen's political parties to close ranks and cooperate to confront acts of terrorism, Saba reported. In August, Yemeni security forces arrested five suspected al Qaeda militants in Hadramawt, days after the authorities revealed they had uncovered a new "terrorist" cell near the port city of Al-Mukalla.
Yemen, ancestral homeland of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, has been battling suspected al Qaeda militants since before the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.