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Yemen drone strike: Six al-Qaeda 'militants' die Yemen al-Qaeda: Eight 'militants' die in drone strikes
(about 3 hours later)
Six alleged al-Qaeda militants have been killed in the latest presumed US drone strike in Yemen, officials say. At least eight alleged al-Qaeda militants have been killed in Yemen in drone strikes presumed to have been carried out by the US, officials say.
The attack in Marib province was the sixth in the last two weeks. The number of such strikes in Yemen since late July has risen to seven.
It comes a day after Yemeni authorities said they had foiled a major al-Qaeda plot to blow up oil pipelines and seize two of the country's main ports. The latest attacks come a day after the authorities said they had foiled a major al-Qaeda plot against oil pipelines and ports.
Yemen is considered a stronghold of al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula (AQAP). Militants have gained ground because of a weak central government. Yemen is deemed a stronghold of an al-Qaeda offshoot considered by Washington to be the most dangerous to the West.
Security forces were placed on a high state of alert earlier in the week amid fears of an al-Qaeda-linked attack that prompted Western embassies to close. Yemeni security forces were placed on a high state of alert earlier in the week amid fears of an al-Qaeda-linked attack that prompted Western embassies to close.
Both the US and UK withdrew diplomatic staff and urged their nationals to leave the country.Both the US and UK withdrew diplomatic staff and urged their nationals to leave the country.
On Thursday, Yemeni counter-terrorism forces raided a number of addresses north of the capital Sanaa after a tip-off that they were being used by AQAP operatives, a Yemeni security source told BBC Arabic. On Thursday, Yemeni counter-terrorism forces raided a number of addresses north of the capital Sanaa after a tip-off that they were being used by operatives of al-Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula (AQAP), a Yemeni security source told BBC Arabic.
In another development, a Yemeni diplomatic source told BBC Arabic that the US had suspended arrangements to return about 100 Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison.In another development, a Yemeni diplomatic source told BBC Arabic that the US had suspended arrangements to return about 100 Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison.
However an Obama administration official told the BBC that there had been no policy change and that President Barack Obama's May decision to lift a moratorium on transferring Guantanamo detainees to Yemen remained in effect. However an Obama administration official said there had been no policy change and that President Barack Obama's May decision to lift a moratorium on transferring Guantanamo detainees to Yemen remained in effect.
"He lifted the moratorium on transfers in favour of a case-by-case evaluation. That evaluation necessarily will take into account security conditions. The security situation is always taken into account," the official said. "He lifted the moratorium on transfers in favour of a case-by-case evaluation. That evaluation necessarily will take into account security conditions. The security situation is always taken into account," the official told the BBC.
Dawn attackDawn attack
Thursday's dawn attack in Marib targeted vehicles transporting the alleged militants. Five of the dead were Yemeni while the sixth was thought to be from another Arab state, an unnamed official told AP news agency. One of Thursday's attacks in central Marib province targeted vehicles transporting the alleged militants at dawn. Five of the dead were Yemeni while the sixth was thought to be from another Arab state, an unnamed official told AP news agency.
AP also reported a second drone strike on Thursday, this time in Hadramawt province, that left three suspected militants dead. The second strike, in eastern Hadramawt province, left at least two suspected militants dead.
On Wednesday, another seven people died in a strike. On Wednesday, another seven people died in a drone attack.
About 30 suspected militants have been killed in a series of raids since 28 July, news agencies report. About 30 suspected militants have been killed in a series of such raids since 28 July, news agencies report.
While the US has acknowledged targeting militants in Yemen with drones, it does not comment publicly on its policy or the raids.While the US has acknowledged targeting militants in Yemen with drones, it does not comment publicly on its policy or the raids.
According to a US think-tank, the New America Foundation, the number of US drone strikes in Yemen tripled between 2011 and 2012.According to a US think-tank, the New America Foundation, the number of US drone strikes in Yemen tripled between 2011 and 2012.