British and US government agrees to fund counterterrorism police unit in Yemen
By APSaturday, January 2, 2010
Britain, US to fund Yemen anti-terror police unit
LONDON — The British government said Sunday that Prime Minister Gordon Brown and U.S. President Barack Obama had agreed to fund a counterterrorism police unit in Yemen to tackle the rising terrorist threat from the country.
Brown’s Downing Street Office said the United Kingdom and the United States had also agreed to increase support for Yemen’s coast guard operation. Pirates operating in the waters between Somalia and Yemen have seized four ships in the last week.
In Washington, however, a senior administration official said he’s unaware of any new joint effort that is ready to be announced. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive matters, said American and British forces currently provide the Yemeni police counterterrorism assistance.
Downing Street said Brown and Obama will push the U.N. Security Council to create a larger peacekeeping force for Somalia.
The British government unveiled its plans in the wake of the thwarted Christmas Day bombing of a passenger plane bound for Detroit.
Brown called last week for a high-level international meeting later this month to devise ways to counter radicalization in Yemen. He said an international approach is needed to combat the increasing influence of al-Qaida in Yemen. The terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the failed attack.
Downing Street said the government of Yemen had been consulted over the decision to boost the country’s coast guard and police operations.
The White House said Washington stands ready to work with allies to fight extremism. The official welcomed Brown’s move earlier to lead an international conference on Jan. 28 to devise ways to counter radicalization in the country, the poorest in the Arab world.
The official also was unable to confirm any plans to push for a larger U.N. peacekeeping force for Somalia.
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Associated Press writer Philip Elliott in Honolulu contributed to this report.
Tags: Africa, Barack Obama, Christmas, East Africa, England, Europe, London, Middle East, National Security, North America, Somalia, Terrorism, United Kingdom, United States, Western Europe, Yemen
