SANA'A, Yemen, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. Gen. David Petraeus met Saturday with Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh and renewed America's commitment to fighting terrorists in that country.
The Yemen News Agency reported Petraeus, the top U.S. military leader in the Middle East, delivered a letter from U.S. President Barack Obama dealing with the two countries' common interests in fighting terrorism and sea piracy and dealing with other security issues.
Politico quoted an Obama administration official saying the meeting was a "productive visit" that's "part of our ongoing consultations with and efforts in support of Yemen."
"We have made Yemen a priority over the course of this year, and this is the latest in that effort," the official said.
Petraeus provided a briefing on the meeting to John Brennan, the White House homeland security and intelligence adviser, the administration official said.
Earlier Saturday, President Barack Obama directly linked Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man accused in the Flight 253 bombing attempt, to an al-Qaida affiliate in Yemen. The terror group trained Abdulmutallab in Yemen, provided explosives and directed him to target the U.S.-bound flight on Christmas Day, Obama said.
