WASHINGTON — The United States is helpoing
American dependents leave Yemen.
The State Department has offered free flights to non-essential diplomats
and family members. The department offer was issued after three mortars
struck a school near the U.S. embassy in Sanaa on March 18, Middle East Newsline reported.
"The security threat level remains high due to terrorist activities in
Yemen," the department said. "The Department of State authorized the
voluntary departure for embassy employees and eligible family members after
several explosions targeted the embassy compound on March 18."
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Officials said the State Department determined that the U.S. embassy had
been the target of the alleged Yemeni gunners. They said the gunners were
probably Al Qaida operatives directed to help in the Islamic campaign to
drive Americans out of Yemen.
"I can confirm that the attacks on Tuesday targeted our embassy, not the
school," embassy spokesman Ryan Gliha said.
At least two people, including a Yemeni schoolgirl, were killed in the
mortar strike. The embassy was closed after the attack until at least this
week.
The United States has been dismayed over Yemen's failure to capture and
imprison Al Qaida detainees. Officials said the regime of President Ali
Abdullah Saleh has instead sought to obtain a commitment from Al Qaida
fugitives to end their attacks.
