West backs Yemen on extremism at London meet

World powers pledged to stand side-by-side with Yemen to tackle extremism at its roots after talks in London on how to tackle al-Qaeda militants in a state seen as a new frontier in the war against terror.

In a joint news conference the foreign ministers of Yemen, Britain and the United States said Yemen's problems required a broader range of solutions than a simple crackdown on al-Qaeda affiliates.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who chaired the meeting, told reporters afterwards that it was "an important step forward" and warned that the causes of militancy must be tackled.

"In tackling terrorism it is vital to tackle its root causes. In Yemen's case these are manifold -- economic, social and political," he said.

But U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fired a shot over Yemen's bows by insisting that Sanaa and the world "can and must do more" to help the country's people, the poorest in the Arab world, overcome extremism.

Miliband announced five items agreed at the meeting, including the agreement to start talks on an IMF program for Yemen, more engagement with its security challenges and confirmation from Yemen that it will "pursue its reform agenda".

He also announced a follow-up donors' meeting in Riyadh on Feb. 27 and 28.

In tackling terrorism it is vital to tackle its root causes. In Yemen's case these are manifold -- economic, social and political

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband

21 countries

The London talks brought together ministers and officials from 21 Western and Arab countries to discuss security as well as wider economic and political problems facing Yemen.

Britain called the meeting after a foiled Christmas Day attack on a U.S. airliner by a Nigerian man thought to have been trained in Yemen.

London has warned that unless Yemen is stabilized, it could become a "failed state" like its lawless neighbor Somalia.

Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi had come to the meeting wanting a commitment on development to fight radicalization.

"What we have achieved today does indeed achieve the results (wanted) by Yemen," he said.

Yemen's troubles sprang to prominence at Christmas, when the 23-year-old Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, allegedly tried to detonate explosives in his underwear on a plane approaching the U.S. city of Detroit.

U.S. President Barack Obama has accused Al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen -- al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula -- of training, equipping and directing the suspect.

Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the plot in an audio message broadcast Sunday, and vowed further strikes would follow.

No US bases

Yemen has ruled out allowing the United States to set up military bases on its soil to fight the extremist threat, with al-Qirbi telling the BBC Tuesday that such a move was "inconceivable" and against the country's constitution.

It stepped up its own campaign earlier this month with a military crackdown against Al-Qaeda, thought to be operating out of mountains east of Sanaa, and has stopped granting visas on arrival at airports to try to prevent militants from coming in.

But the U.S. military and intelligence agencies have been involved in secret operations with Yemeni troops who have killed six regional al-Qaeda leaders in recent weeks, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Although U.S. troops do not take part in raids in Yemen, they plan missions, develop tactics and provide weapons and ammunition, the Post said, adding that the United States was also sharing sensitive intelligence with Yemeni forces.

The London talks lasted for only two hours on the eve of a major international conference on Afghanistan in the British capital. Some British lawmakers have charged that the briefness meant they were merely a gimmick.