US embassy cable - 04SANAA728

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SANAA 000728 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA, NEA/ARP, NEA/EX, S/CT, CA, DS/DSS, 
CENTCOM FOR POLAD, FBI HQ (ATTN: DIRECTOR'S OFFICE), FBI 
IOU (ATTN: SANDY FOWLER), FBI CTD, FBI ITOS'1/ETIU (ATTN: 
RALPH HORTON AND DEBBIE MANCHAS) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/28/2014 
TAGS: PTER, PREL, IZ, YM, COUNTER TERRORISM, MARITIME SECURITY 
SUBJECT: PRESENTATION OF INCOMING LEGATT TO MINISTER OF 
INTERIOR 
 
Classified By: CTC AUSTIN G. GILREATH, for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1.  (U) Summary:  On 27 March 2004, The Ambassador met with 
ROYG Minister of the Interior Rashad al-Alimi to present 
newly arrived LEGATT and discuss security subjects.  Alimi 
warmly welcomed LEGATT, and listed a number of issues on 
which MOI sought cooperation with LEGATT.  Also present at 
the meeting were MOI Office Director Sunidar, DCM, ARSO and 
Embassy Counterterrorism Coordinator.  End summary. 
 
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LEGATT WELL-RECEIVED 
 
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2.  (C)  Minister Alimi welcomed LEGATT warmly and stated 
that a new chapter of cooperation was beginning in ROYG-USG 
relations.  Alimi identified MOI Office Director General 
Sunidar as the LEGATT's primary point of contact for future 
interaction.  As a first instance of cooperation, Alimi 
requested LEGATT/FBI assistance in investigating the case of 
a Yemeni arrested in December 2003 who confessed to stabbing 
three foreigners (none U.S. citizens) in Sana'a.  The man 
claimed extreme religious views and was found to be in 
possession of $60,000 USD, but the MOI was unclear as to his 
true motives or connection to outside financial support and 
requested assistance to include a possible polygraph 
examination.  Alimi further requested LEGATT assistance in 
the formation of MOI's nascent counter-terrorism unit and CT 
Operations Center. 
 
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OTHER SECURITY ISSUES 
 
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3.  (U)  The Ambassador informed Alimi that the 
American-supplied Yemeni Coast Guard (YCG) boats would be 
officially commissioned in a ceremony in Aden on 7 April 
2004.  The YCG would assume total responsibility for 
maintaining maritime security on the two refineries and free 
port zone in Aden.  The Ambassador and Alimi both agreed that 
the YCG would serve well to increase interest and 
international support in Yemeni maritime security issues. 
 
4. (C)  The Ambassador thanked Alimi for the additional 
security provided by the MOI to the Embassy in March during 
the ROYG's highly successful CT/security operations in Abyan 
and during the aftermath of the Shaykh Yassin assassination. 
 
5. (C)  The Ambassador briefed Alimi on the proposed 
INL-sponsored anti-riot training module that would be 
provided to police forces in Sana'a.  Alimi was very 
receptive to the proposed training and acknowledged that it 
was sorely needed given past performance.  (Comment:  Alimi 
was likely referring to anti-U.S. demonstrations that 
occurred approximately 1/4 mile from the Embassy on March 2, 
2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, resulting in the death 
of several protesters and injuries to police.  End comment) 
 
6.  (U)  CT Coordinator briefed Alimi on an upcoming Export 
and Border Security (EXBS) Conference to be held in Malta on 
11-14 May, and invited the ROYG to identify 4-6 individuals 
for sponsored participation.  Alimi responded favorably. 
 
7. (C)  The Ambassador briefed Alimi that the Embassy would 
be holding a regional chiefs of mission conference in Sana'a 
in late April.  Alimi commented that such a conference was a 
positive step and would be well-received.  He offered 
assurance of security escorts and assistance as needed. 
 
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IRAN EXPLOITING YASSIN ASSASSINATION 
 
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8. (C)  Alimi told the Ambassador that recent extremist 
activity and anti-U.S. vitriol at the grand mosques in Sa'dah 
and Sana'a was due to Government of Iran (GOI) involvement. 
Alimi said the GOI was providing instructors and financial 
assistance to elements who sought to exploit and expound 
anti-Western sentiment, particularly in the aftermath of the 
Yassin assassination. 
 
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ABU SHAHEED FOLLOW-UP 
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9. (C)  Alimi confirmed that the Political Security 
Organization (PSO) had recently arrested Abu al-Shaheed and 
had begun questioning him on his involvement in terrorist 
activities in Yemen.  Alimi commented that Shaheed had openly 
wept during interrogation and expressed his desire at 
reconciliation.  Alimi said he himself had interviewed 
Shaheed, but that Shaheed remained in PSO custody.  Because 
Shaheed had given himself up after negotiations with ROYG 
Security Forces, and was cooperating with interrogators, 
Alimi said he believed that this may indicate a positive 
future trend in which those suspected of terrorist activities 
would turn themselves in rather than be subjected to ROYG 
manhunts. 
HULL