Britain has called a summit of world leaders in London later this month to discuss the terror threat posed by Yemen, seen with concern in the West as a new breeding ground for al-Qaeda-linked extremists.
The move comes after it emerged that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the young Nigerian who allegedly attempted to blow up a plane over Detroit on Christmas day, was trained in Yemen.
He is reported to have told investigators that he was radicalised and trained in Yemen. A Yemeni offshoot of the al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the failed plot. The incident has prompted concern that the al-Qaeda, under pressure in Afghanistan, has set its sights on Yemen as a new safe haven.
The conference, to be held alongside an international conference on Afghanistan on January 28, is said to have the support of U.S. President Barack Obama, the European Union and the Arab world.
Besides U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, representatives from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries are expected to attend the summit.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has called the conference, described Yemen as an “incubator” and a “potential haven” for terrorism, and said Britain wanted to help Yemen drive the al-Qaeda out of the country. He also urged the international community to support Yemen in its fight against terror.
“The international community must not deny Yemen the support it needs to tackle extremism... I have said before that Yemen — both as an incubator and potential safe haven for terrorism — presents a regional and global threat,” Mr. Brown said.
The summit will discuss, among other things, financial assistance to Yemen for training its security forces. Britain is reported to have committed £100 million over the next two years while America is considering “doubling” its existing aid package. Media reports said Mr. Brown would spend the next few weeks pressing Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries to step up to the plate.
