U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the problems in Yemen are a threat to regional and global security.
Secretary of State Clinton told reporters there are global implications from the unrest in Yemen and the ongoing efforts by al-Qaida to use it as a base for terrorist attacks far beyond the region.
Clinton made the remarks at the State Department where she held talks with visiting Qatari Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassim Jabr Al-Thani. "The instability in Yemen is a threat to regional stability and even global stability, and we're working with Qatar and others to think of the best way forward to try to deal with the security concerns, and certainly we know that this is a difficult set of challenges but they have to be addressed," she said.
The U.S., British and French embassies are currently closed in Yemen due to threats by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
That group is linked to the Nigerian man who has been charged with trying to blow up a U.S. bound airliner on December 25.
Britain and the United States are supporting counter-terrorism operations in Yemen and London is hosting a conference on the country at the end of the month.
Secretary Clinton praised the Yemeni government for recent steps it has taken to combat extremists, but says there are conditions if that support is going to continue. "There have been numerous conflicts in Yemen. They seem to just get worse and worse with more players involved now, and it's time for the international community to make it clear to Yemen that there are expectations and conditions on our continuing support for the government so that they can take actions which will have a better chance to provide that peace and stability to the people of Yemen and the region," she said.
Some Western officials have referred to Yemen as a failing state.
The government is besieged by the growing al-Qaida threat, a war in the north with Shi'ite rebels and separatist unrest in the south.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the problems in Yemen are a threat to regional and global security.
Secretary of State Clinton told reporters there are global implications from the unrest in Yemen and the ongoing efforts by al-Qaida to use it as a base for terrorist attacks far beyond the region.
Clinton made the remarks at the State Department where she held talks with visiting Qatari Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassim Jabr Al-Thani. "The instability in Yemen is a threat to regional stability and even global stability, and we're working with Qatar and others to think of the best way forward to try to deal with the security concerns, and certainly we know that this is a difficult set of challenges but they have to be addressed," she said.
The U.S., British and French embassies are currently closed in Yemen due to threats by al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
That group is linked to the Nigerian man who has been charged with trying to blow up a U.S. bound airliner on December 25.
Britain and the United States are supporting counter-terrorism operations in Yemen and London is hosting a conference on the country at the end of the month.
Secretary Clinton praised the Yemeni government for recent steps it has taken to combat extremists, but says there are conditions if that support is going to continue. "There have been numerous conflicts in Yemen. They seem to just get worse and worse with more players involved now, and it's time for the international community to make it clear to Yemen that there are expectations and conditions on our continuing support for the government so that they can take actions which will have a better chance to provide that peace and stability to the people of Yemen and the region," she said.
Some Western officials have referred to Yemen as a failing state.
The government is besieged by the growing al-Qaida threat, a war in the north with Shi'ite rebels and separatist unrest in the south.