Yemen has arrested a man described as the lead financier of Al-Qaeda in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, a Yemen Interior Ministry official said Sunday. He said Hassan Hussein Alwan, a Saudi national, was seized two days ago in Marib province in the east of Yemen. Saudi Ministry of Interior spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki said communication with the Yemeni government was ongoing concerning the arrest of Alwan. “Saudi-Yemeni security coordination is in place, and manifested in the exchange of information and detainees,” Yemeni ambassador to the Kingdom Muhammad Ali Al-Ahwal said. “Cooperation between the two countries will continue to fight terrorism.” Alwan is to face charges of being involved in forming an armed group in Yemen that was designed to carry out terrorist attacks and of financing the group's activities. San'aa has handed over two Saudis arrested in Yemen during the last two months. Both Muhammad Al-Oufi and Abdullah Al-Harbi were on the Kingdom's list of 85 wanted released last February. Earlier on Sunday, a Yemeni government source said seven Germans, a Briton and a South Korean were kidnapped in the Saada area of north Yemen, days after 24 doctors and nurses were held then released within a day. Yemeni tribesmen in Saada Friday released the medical workers they had abducted a day earlier, demanding the authorities release two prisoners, a government official said. No Gitmo deal Yemen's Foreign Ministry has denied reports that Yemeni inmates at Guantanamo Bay prison will be transferred to terrorist rehabilitation centers in Saudi Arabia. Sunday's statement says Yemen and the United States are still discussing the transfer of the almost 100 detainees back to their country.
