Tuesday, 07 September 2010 02:20

SHABWA, 25 Dec -- Al-Qaeda militants are controlling the mountainous region stretching between the southern provinces of Abyan and Shabwa, al-Tagheer independent website reported on Friday citing local sources, adding “the mountain range of al-Khour between the two provinces is rough, without roads and very difficult to reach and it is estimated more than 350 al-Qaeda militants are stationed there.”

The sources said “members of al-Qaeda network started to lure many young men and have been organizing seminars, meetings and speeches especially after Anwar al-Awlaki arrived in the area coming from Washington,” adding “another individual named Fahed al-Qasia is considered the second man after al-Awlaki and has been active in recruiting young men from al-Rafed region in Shabwa.”  Al-Awlaki was imprisoned for a while at the Political Security Organization in Sanaa and after his release, he moved with his family to al-Rafed area where he has been lecturing at mosques and meeting with youth from the region.  Meanwhile, dozens of families Thursday started to leave al-Rafed area to Attaq in Shabwa fearing more air strikes after warplanes bombed al-Qaeda alleged hideout in the area killing 30 operatives.