Experts to Obama: Yemen Policy Must Change

Source: POMED (Read full story)

On Monday, 27 leading experts on Yemen, U.S. foreign policy, and security signed onto a letter to President Obama urging a fundamental shift in American policy towards Yemen. Coordinated by the Yemen Policy Initiative, the letter argues for a more balanced policy approach that elevates support for long-term economic and political development in Yemen alongside counterterrorism efforts.

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To see the full text of the letter, click here.

Yemen and Oman hunt al Qaeda infiltrators

Source: Reuters (Read full story)

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Ansar al Sharia, an offshoot of al Qaeda, last year exploited political turmoil to capture several cities in southern Yemen, before being driven out by government forces this month who now appear to have the rebels on the run.

Yemeni officials have said some militants have fled towards a province bordering Oman.

Last year, the sultanate was rocked by mass protests against corruption and unemployment, which appeared to have been inspired by the Arab Spring uprisings.

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UAE leads global voices against maritime piracy

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

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Shocking statistics, but it’s time to face the facts that this violence cannot be tolerated and the two-day initiative by the UAE will also focus on the genesis of the problem in deprived Somalia. President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed of Transitional Federal Government of Somalia will attend the meeting with a top delegation and deliver the keynote address. Koji Sekimizu, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization will speak of the losses the shipping has had to incur.

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