Qaeda militants are hiding the abducted Saudi diplomat in the Gulf of Aden, security and tribal sources in Yemen said Friday. Following increasing tribal pressures and intensification of the search operations by Yemeni security authorities, the militants are using a fishing boat in carrying out the hiding operation, the sources said. Abdullah Al-Khalidi was kidnapped in Yemen in March this year. A leading Yemeni security figure, who accompanied Okaz/Saudi Gazette during a visit to Al-Khalidi's residence in one of the modest Aden districts, said stealing the Saudi diplomat's car by a gang that has relations with Al-Qaeda was in preparation for kidnapping him. Security officials said the ransom demanded by Al-Qaeda in return for releasing the diplomat is still obscure and lacks details. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Salim Qatn, Commander of the Southern Region, said the Yemeni intelligence authorities are intensifying their efforts to liberate Al-Khalidi. He declined to give further details for security reasons. But the official reiterated the keenness of the military command to get the diplomat released as soon as possible. Saudi Arabia has rejected any negotiations with Al-Qaeda for the release of the diplomat and vowed to do all it can to free the hostage. “We are working and will work with all our power, and we have instructions from (King Abdullah) Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques ..., to follow up with the brothers in Yemen to ensure the release of the kidnapped diplomat,” Prince Khaled Bin Saud, Assistant Foreign Minister, said last month. He spoke a day after a spokesman of the Ministry of Interior said a suspected Al-Qaeda militant has claimed responsibility for kidnapping the diplomat and demanded the release of militants in Saudi prisons. __
