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Yemen's deal with U.S. will not include bases

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Thursday, November 29, 2001

WASHINGTON Ñ Yemen has refused a U.S. request for access to military bases in the Arabian republic.

Yemeni officials said an accord ready for signing between Sanaa and Washington will be limited to intelligence and security issues. The officials said Yemen will not grant the United States a military base to monitor the Arabian Sea and Red Sea.

"Reports that Yemen will grant military facilities to the United States are not true," Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al Qurbi said. "Yemen will never offer the U.S. any military facilities on its territory and President Saleh has been quite frank about this matter."

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh met President George Bush and senior administration officials this week in an effort to formalize counterterrorism cooperation and obtain civilian and military aid from Washington. Yemen is said to be seeking a $400 million package that would include funding as well as military and security training.

In an interview with the London-based Al Hayat daily on Thursday, Saleh said Sanaa and Washington have agreed on a joint battle against terrorism.

Saleh described his meeting with Bush as excellent.

U.S. officials said the administration has sought to expand its military relationship with Yemen. They did not say whether the U.S. aid package was dependent on the Pentagon's access to Yemeni military bases.

Yemen has taken measures against suspected Islamic insurgents. Yemeni sources said 400 suspects have been detained over the last few weeks.

In addition, the government in Sanaa has ordered that background checks be issued for all visa applicants. Officials said the measure will impose restrictions on those arriving from countries in South Asia.

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