Over 300 Yemenis volunteered for Jihad in 2008, al-Qaeda statement

Over 300 young Yemeni men affiliated with al-Qaeda traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia for Jihad in 2008, said an alleged al-Qaeda military leader on Wednesday. “More than 300 young men from the land of Yemen, who are members of our organization joined their brothers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia during 2008,” said Abu Osama, a member of the military council of al-Qaeda and the commander of the Yemen Brigades. In a statement published by the local weekly independent newspaper al-Wasat, Abu Osama claims that al-Qaeda in Yemen has become stronger than ever. He also said mediation between al-Qaeda and the Yemeni government remains deadlocked. "There is nothing left between us and them (government) except for the sword," said the statement. This was not the first time al-Qaeda in Yemen has sent such statements to al-Wasat. Many similar statements have been sent to the paper- particularly after armed confrontations between al-Qaeda and Yemeni security forces. Officials decline to comment on such statements, as they are simply fabricated statement sent by email, according to a security official who was contacted by the Yemen Observer Wednesday. The current statement was released two days after two al-Qaeda militants were killed and another was injured and arrested in clashes with security forces in Sana'a. more..http://www.yobserver.com/front-page/10015613.html