Yemen seeks help in battle against militants

Yemen calls for 'concrete support' as at least eight people are arrested in connection with attack on British diplomat's car.

SANA'A // Yemen called for "concrete support" for its battle against Islamist militants as at least eight people were arrested yesterday in connection with the previous day's attack on a British diplomat's car. "Eight people were arrested hours after the attack from the Musaik area," a source said on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the press. Sources in Musaik, in eastern Sana'a, confirmed the arrests.

Tarqi al Shami, a spokesman for the ruling People's General Congress, said the attack is a message from al Qa'eda that it remains a force after a campaign by security forces. He urged other nations to back up the government in its war on terrorists, which he called an "open battle". "There is a political support for the government on its fight against terrorism, but we hope this support will transfer into a concrete support to the government capacities in battling terrorism through the Friends of Yemen group," he added.

The UK embassy is wary after a rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the diplomat's car, injuring two Yemeni bystanders and the UK deputy chief of mission, Fionna Gibb. "We are operating, but the embassy was closed to the public until further notice. We do not know when it will reopen as this depends on the security situation, which we are reviewing," Daisey Organ, an embassy spokeswoman, said yesterday.