Yemen’s president open to dialogue with al-Qaida

YEMEN’S president said he is ready to open a dialogue with al-Qaida fighters who lay down their weapons and renounce violence, despite US pressure to crack down on the terror group.

The United States has complained in the past that Yemen struck deals with al-Qaida fighters and freed them from prison after they promised not to engage in terrorism. Some later broke those promises and are believed to be active in al-Qaida’s offshoot in Yemen.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh vowed that his government is “determined to stand up to the challenges” of al-Qaida and his security forces will track down as many al-Qaida fighters as possible among those who refuse to stop violence.