Yemen says its foiled an Al Qaeda plot amid high security alert

Yemen says it has foiled an Al Qaeda plot to blow up oil pipelines and seize some of the country's main ports. Yemeni government spokesman Rajeh Badi said the plot involved blowing up oil pipelines and taking control of key cities, including two ports in the South. He said "These were attempts to control key cities in Yemen like Mukala and Bawzeer", adding: "This would be co-ordinated with attacks by al-Qaeda members on the gas facilities in Shebwa city and the blowing up of the gas pipe in Belhaf city". Security remains tight in the country after the US and UK evacuated all non-essential staff due to security fears, and warned citizens against travel to the country; telling anyone already in the nation to leave immediately. AP News agency quoted Yemeni officials as saying they believed the motive for the planned attacks was retaliation for the killing of a senior Al-Qaeda figure Said al-Shihri, who died after being injured in a November drone strike.