Yemen Shi'ite Rebels Say Ready For Talks With Saudi

Source: NYT

SANAA (Reuters) - Yemen's Shi'ite rebels said on Thursday they were ready for talks to end fighting with neighboring Saudi Arabia, and issued a taped message from their leader to disprove reports he had been killed.

Yemen has come under the spotlight after the regional wing of al Qaeda there said it was behind the failed Christmas Day bombing of a U.S. passenger plane.

The United States and Saudi Arabia fear al Qaeda will exploit instability in Yemen, which faces a northern Shi'ite revolt and separatist sentiment in the south, to stage attacks in the world's top oil exporter and beyond.

"If Saudi aggression stops and there is a real will toward security and stability ... then we do not attack anyone that does not attack us," the rebels said on their website.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/31/world/international-us-yemen-rebels-saudi.html