国际英语新闻：Yemen says not intimidated by al-Qaida threats

SANAA, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Yemen said on Tuesday that it will not be intimidated by threats made by al-Qaida leaders, vowing to continue its strikes against their hideouts across the country.

"Threats made by al-Qaida group from time to time will not intimidate the (Yemeni) security agencies, which reflect despair and isolation of the terrorist elements in Yemen," a statement by the Interior Ministry said.

The statement came one day after Said Ali al-Shihri, deputy leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, called on Yemeni tribes on Monday to wage jihad, or holy war, against the Western interests and the Yemeni government to revenge recent air raids against their hideouts.

"Stand by your Mujahedeen (freedom fighters) sons and make preparation for waging a long jihad against the Western interests and its agents in the Yemeni government," Shihri said in an audiotape posted on the Internet.

Yemen's Interior Ministry, in response, vowed "there will be no truce with terrorists, and security agencies will continue to strike their hideouts, wherever they are."

"Terrorist elements will be tracked down around the clock across Yemen," the ministry added.

Yemen, facing armed rebellion in the north and growing separatist movement in the south, has launched security and military campaigns, including air raids against al-Qaida militants, in provinces of Abyan, Shabwa, Marib and al-Ajashir district of al- Jawf province.

Last month, Yemen's Interior Ministry confirmed the death of six senior leaders of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.