The government can arrest the most-wanted Al Awlaki, tribal leader

By Nasser Arrabyee/03/11/2010

Tribal leader said Wednesday that the Yemeni government is able to arrest the extremist Yemeni-American cleric Anwar Al Awlaki.

“The government can arrest him if it wants,” said the Abu Bakr bin Fareed, a prominent tribal leader in the tribe of Anwar Al Awlaki in Shabwah province south east of the country, when he asked by reporters today if the tribesmen would hand over Anwar Al Awlaki, the most wanted for both Yemen and US.

Earlier Wednesday, in an internet statement, Al Qaeda called the tribesmen of Al Awlaki in Shabwah not to cooperate with the Yemeni against Anwar who is believed to be hiding in the mountains of Al Saeed where his influential tribe is.
In a statement under “from Awlakis in Al Qaeda to leaders of the tribe”, Al Qaeda said, “Do not cooperate with the government which is working as police man with the Americans.”

Sheikh Abu Bakr bin Faree, who is close to Anwar’s family, said, “We are against terrorism, against the thoughts of Al Qaeda, and we refuse their being with us.”
The Yemeni government is launching a military campaign now in the two provinces of Shabwah and Mareb where Anwar Al Awlaki and the Saudi national Ibrahim Asiri, known as bomb-maker, are believed to be hiding.

Anwar Al Awlaki was put on trial in absentia on Tuesday for charges of affiliation with Al Qaeda and making plots to kill foreigners.

The Yemeni government seems to be under great pressure from US which is extremely angry after the current parcel bombs uproar. The Saudi Ibrahim Asir, who is accused of making the US-bound parcel bombs, is believed to be with Anwar Al Awlaki in the mountains of Al Saeed in Shabwah.