SANAA, Yemen, May 11 (UPI) -- One of the most dangerous runaway al-Qaida operatives in Yemen was recaptured more than three months after escaping from the central intelligence prison.
A security source was quoted on the Ministry of Defense Web site Thursday as saying, "Abdullah al-Rimi was recaptured following a successful intelligence operation in cooperation with the anti-terrorism department and security agencies that lasted for three weeks."
The source said Rimi was seized in the province of Maarab, east of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa.
Rimi is the second runaway al-Qaida activist to be recaptured. Earlier, seven fugitives surrendered to the authorities, bringing to nine the number of activists who have been returned to prison of the 23 who escaped Feb. 3.
According to the official story, the 23 al-Qaida prisoners, including convicts in the bombing of the USS Cole in the port of Aden in October 2000, escaped through a tunnel they dug from a cell to the toilets of a prayer hall for women in the vicinity of the prison.
The Interior Ministry allocated a reward for information leading to the recapture of the fugitives, and distributed pictures of them in villages and cities as well at all security points and border posts.
