Yemeni cleric warns U.S. on sending troops

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Yemeni cleric warns U.S. on sending troops
By Lee Keath - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jan 12, 2010 7:01:23 EST

SAN’A, Yemen — Yemen’s most influential Islamic cleric, considered an al-Qaida-linked terrorist by the United States, warned that the U.S.-backed fight against the terror group could lead to “foreign occupation” of the country.

Sheik Abdul-Majid al-Zindani’s comments Monday illustrated the pressure Yemen’s government is under to limit the U.S. role here even as Washington ramps up counterterrorism aid and training to help combat al-Qaida’s offshoot in the country.

Al-Zindani is emblematic of how — unlike in Iraq and Afghanistan, whose governments are bitter enemies of al-Qaida — Yemen’s beleaguered regime has built alliances with Islamic extremists to hold onto power. Some have al-Qaida connections, complicating the fight.

Branded a spiritual mentor of Osama bin Laden by the U.S., al-Zindani is highly influential among Yemenis. The United States has labeled him a “global terrorist,” alleging in a 2004 U.S. Treasury report that he helped fund and recruit for al-Qaida and that students from his Iman University were involved in past attacks.

Yemen’s government has openly allied with al-Zindani in the past and still courts his support. The deputy prime minister last week defended the cleric, saying he is not a member of al-Qaida.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/01/ap_yemen_us_011210/