3 of 12 Americans detained in Yemen over terror charges

Washington, June 9 (ANI): Yemeni authorities have detained 12 Americans, three of them on terror charges, a U.S. State Department spokesman has said.

The spokesman, P.J. Crowley said that the U.S. was trying to get more information, and working to make sure the rights of those arrested were being protected.

Crowley said those detained were arrested on a variety of charges, including murder.

When asked if the U.S. had provided information that led to the detention, he said that Washington had "great cooperation with the Government of Yemen."

"We are cooperating intensively with Yemen on counter terrorism matters and we have mutual concern about al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula," The New York Post quoted Crowley, as saying.

"I'm not going to get into particulars of that cooperation, but we remain in contact with Yemen," he added.

The arrests followed increased monitoring of Arabic language schools in the country in the wake of last December's failed attempt to blow up a US-bound plane.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration continues to encourage Yemen to move against Al-Qaida-linked militants in the country.

Earlier, last week, Yemeni security officials had detained several foreigners, including Americans, Britons and an Australian woman, in connection with an investigation into Al-Qaida's increased activity in the country. (ANI)