Somalia 'is a source of concern

[Enemy_Of_Mad_Mullah]

SANAA, Yemen (UPI) -- Yemen has been active in combating terrorism. But of late, this country on the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula has a new concern, Somalia, where al-Qaida is reported to have established a new foothold in the region. Separated from Yemen by a narrow waterway, the Yemenis fear Somalia`s instability could spill over into other countries in the region.

Somalia 'is a source of concern,' Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu-Bakr Abdallah al-Qurbi, told United Press International during an interview in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Al-Qurbi said other countries in the region, such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti were also concerned.

'Any spot like Somalia where there is no stability and where extremist elements are gathering is not only a danger to itself but also to surrounding countries,' al-Qurbi said.

Questioned on the dangers of al-Qaida moving bases to Somalia, al-Qurbi said the United States and a number of Western countries which have a presence in the Gulf of Aden and the African Horn 'are watching any movement between the African and Yemeni coasts.' They include France, Germany and Italy.

The minister told UPI there were 'expectations that members of al-Qaida are trying to infiltrate from the African Horn to Yemen and through it to other regions.'

He emphasized that Yemen was keen to help re-stabilize Somalia and establish a legitimate government to prevent 'extremist and terrorist elements from exploiting' the deteriorating conditions in Mogadishu