U.S., Yemeni presidents discuss al-Qaida threat on phone

U.S. President Barack Obama and Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh talked on phone on Thursday over the al-Qaida threat in Yemen, White House said in a statement.

"They also discussed the continuing threat of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, and international assistance to Yemen to support its counterterrorism efforts," said the White House.

"President Obama applauded Yemen's determination to address the terrorist threat the Yemeni people face and recognized the sacrifices of Yemeni forces involved in this effort," the statement said.

The United States has been vigilant of al-Qaida threat in Yemen after the Yemen-based al-Qaida claimed that it was behind a failed attempt to blow up a U.S. passenger plane bound for Detroit on December 25, 2009.

Source: Xinhua