20/02/2012

A security source at the  Yemeni Ministry of Interior said that terrorists linked to al-Qaeda killed on 14 February a number of citizens in Abyan and Shabwa provinces south of Yemen.

This organization disseminated recordings purporting to carry confessions of citizens who spied on al-Qaeda for the security services before being executed.

In a statement to Saba, the same security source said: "The security services stress that those presented in al-Qaeda's recordings as spies have no links whatsoever with security-related activities. Presenting such people this way is part of al-Qaeda's media activity to weaken the morale of the armed and security forces and all honourable citizens cooperating with them. This strategy also aims at boosting the collapsed morale of the terrorists, following the blows they have been receiving from the national armed forces."

The source noted that such extra-judicial killings aim at getting rid of some of al-Qaeda elements in connection with a conflict between rival wings within the organization. These killings might also target al-Qaeda elements whose loyalty to the organization is suspected, bearing in mind that the names of alleged spies carried by al-Qaeda are suspected to be false.

The source also stressed that the security and military services will continue to fulfil their national missions of fighting terrorism and dealing painful blows to terrorists. According to the source, these services will also arrest all people linked to terrorist and extremist organizations, before bringing them to justice to receive a fair and deterrent punishment.

On another note, the source observed that the call once addressed to people led astray to return to reason, steer away from sin, and turn themselves in still stands.

The source concluded that the particular circumstances that led such people astray will be taken into account when their cases will be considered.