Global General
Britain, US funding Yemen anti-terror police unit
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-01-03 15:49
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 A Yemeni security armored vehicle patrol in the capital San'a, Yemen, in this June 15, 2009 file photo. The British government said Sunday Jan. 3, 2010 that Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Barack Obama have agreed to back a counterterrorism police unit in Yemen to tackle the rising terrorist threat from the country. [Agencies]  |
LONDON: The British government said Sunday that Prime Minister Gordon Brown and President Barack Obama have agreed to back a counterterrorism police unit in Yemen to tackle the rising terrorist threat from the country.
In an e-mailed statement, Brown's Downing Street Office said the UK and the White House agreed to "intensify joint US-UK work to tackle the emerging terrorist threat from both Yemen and Somalia" in the wake of the failed Detroit terror plot.
"Amongst the initiatives the PM has agreed with President Obama is US-UK funding for a special counter-terrorism police unit in Yemen," the statement said.
Downing Street said that Britain is already helping to train Yemeni counter-terrorism officials, but a UK government spokeswoman said this is the first time the counter-terrorism police units have been confirmed.
Asked to clarify, the UK government spokeswoman said the initiatives in Yemen are part of ongoing work between the UK and the US and that the cost of the counterterrorism police unit will be met by existing funding commitments to Yemen.
The spokeswoman said Britain is forecast to give more than 100 million pounds ($161 million) to Yemen in 2011.
The spokeswoman, speaking on condition on anonymity in line with U.K. government policy, was unable to say how long Britain had been working on initiatives in Yemen.
Downing Street also said in its statement the prime minister and president believe that in Somalia "a larger peacekeeping force is required and will support this at the UN Security Council."
The British government unveiled its plans in the wake of the thwarted Christmas Day bombing of a passenger plane bound for Detroit.
The Downing Street Office said the United Kingdom and the United States would support Yemen's coast guard operation. Pirates operating in the waters between Somalia and Yemen have seized four ships in the past week.
Brown called last week for a high-level international meeting later this month to devise ways to counter radicalization in Yemen. He said an international approach is needed to combat the increasing influence of al-Qaida in Yemen. The terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the failed attack.
Downing Street said the government of Yemen had been consulted over the decision to boost the country's coast guard and police operations.
The White House said Washington stands ready to work with allies to fight extremism. The official welcomed Brown's move earlier to lead an international conference on Jan. 28 to devise ways to counter radicalization in the country, the poorest in the Arab world.
The official also was unable to confirm any plans to push for a larger UN peacekeeping force for Somalia.
