Yemen takes $2 bn hit from terrorist attacks

DUBAI: Terrorist attacks by the Al Qaeda, other Islamic extremists and tribal rebels cost Yemen $2 billion in economic losses, according to that country's Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi.

Al-Qirbi said his country was vulnerable to terrorism, and economic growth levels, which are considered among the weakest in the world, have been affected by such attacks, the state-run news agency reported.

In a statement, he called upon international donors to provide Yemen with adequate aid to overcome this.

 Al-Qirbi also welcomed international observers to the parliamentary elections in the country April 27 next year, adding that Yemen would take all measures ensuring the elections were impartial and held in line with international norms.

Al-Qirbi's comments come in the wake of last month's car bomb attack at the US embassy gate in Sana'a, which claimed 18 lives, including that of a 26-year-old Indian nurse.

It was the deadliest attack against US interests in Yemen since the October 2000 bombing of the warship 'USS Cole' in the southern Yemen port of Aden, which left 17 sailors dead and 32 wounded.

And then March 18 this year, a mortar was fired at the US embassy in which three police officers and four girls in a neighbouring school were wounded.

A similar attack April 6 targeted a residential compound housing US and Western citizens. No one was hurt in that incident.

Al Qaeda had claimed responsibility for both attacks.

After the Sep 11, 2001, attacks on US cities, Yemen had been an ally of the US-led war on terror.