A Yemeni official says the government would not hand over to the US an American-born cleric, who the US claims has ties with Al-Qaeda, because the constitution bans extradition of Yemeni citizens. The Yemeni-American cleric, Anwar Al-Awlaki, is believed to be living in Yemen since 2004. Islamic Affairs Minister Hamoud Al-Hitar said on Tuesday that Yemen is encouraging Al-Awlaki to turn himself in. He says Washington should provide proof of Al-Awlaki's terrorist ties to the Yemeni justice system. The US says Al-Awlaki is active in Al-Qaeda and has placed him on the CIA's list of targets for assassination, despite his American citizenship.
