Yemen unrest could help al Qaeda, al Shaabab:Ethiopia

Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:12pm GMT

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* Says power vacuum can be filled by extremists * Rules out protests in Ethiopia

By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA, March 12 (Reuters) - Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Saturday escalating unrest in Yemen could bolster al Qaeda and its allied Somali insurgents al Shaabab, but ruled out any similar unrest in his country.

A wave of protests, inspired by revolts in Egypt and Tunisia, has weakened President Ali Abdullah Saleh's 32-year grip on Yemen, but he has refused calls for his resignation and the police response to the crisis has become increasingly tough.

Three people died and hundreds were injured on Saturday in some of the fiercest clashes between police and anti-government protesters since popular unrest started to batter faction-riven Yemen in January. [ID:nLDE72B04J]

"If the demonstrations in Yemen lead to some sort of breakdown in law and order, this might give al Qaeda -- which is based there - a good opportunity to expand...It has (also) become a key base of support for al Shabaab," Meles told a news conference.

Experts see a possible resurgence of al Qaeda in Yemen, which some Somali government officials say is sending arms to support the Islamist al Shabaab insurgents in Somalia.

Meles sent troops to Somalia in 2006 to oust an Islamist movement. His army has maintained a heavy presence at its border since withdrawing in 2009. Continued...

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