Yemeni army destroys 5 homes in anti-al-Qaida siege; officials deny reports cleric surrounded
By APTuesday, September 21, 2010
Yemeni officials deny reports cleric surrounded
SAN’A, Yemen — Yemeni security officials say the army has destroyed five empty homes suspected of hiding al-Qaida militants but denied reports that U.S.-born radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki was among the targets.
Yemeni forces had the southern village of Hawta under siege for a second day Tuesday as they took aim at 120 al-Qaida militants believed to be hiding there as part of a government U.S.-backed campaign to uproot the terror network.
Chief municipal official Atiq Baouda denied reports that U.S.-born radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki was among those surrounded by army officials. The army refused to comment on the operation.
Al-Awlaki played a key part in the failed terrorist Christmas Day attempt to take down a Detroit-bound passenger jet.
