SANAA, Yemen, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Yemen was seeking U.S. assistance in exchange for its support and contribution to the international campaign to combat terrorism, a source said on Monday.
The source said Yemen was looking for up to $400 million in aid as a result of its support for the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism.
A Foreign Ministry source said Yemen has responded to the U.S. demands since the bombing of the USS Cole destroyer in the port of Aden that killed 17 U.S. sailors and wounded 39 others in October 2000. The ministry source said the Yemeni authorities allowed U.S. investigators to interrogate suspects and witnesses in the bombing case.
He referred to numerous meetings Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh had with U.S. officials during his visit to Washington last month.
The source said the U.S. officials supported financing projects in Yemen, especially training its special forces and helping secure loans from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and Western allies.
Last week, Yemeni special forces attacked tribal areas where at least three people believed to be part of the al Qaida network -- the group linked to Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States -- were thought to have been hiding. Dozens of Yemeni soldiers and tribesmen were killed in the clashes.
