[19/June/2012]

WASHINGTON, June 19 (Saba) - The U.S. condemned on Tuesday the suicide bomb attack killed the commander of the southern military region in Aden.

"The United States condemns in strongest terms today's terrorist attack against Major General Salem Ali Qatan, Southern Regional Commander of the Yemeni Central Security Forces," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said during a press briefing.

She said that the U.S. extended deepest condolences to his family and friends as well as sympathies to those who were wounded in the cowardly attack.

Major General Qatan was leading the fight against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in Southern Yemen and had recently achieved some very important successes in pushing AQAP out of several Yemeni cities, Nuland said.

She reiterated the U.S. continued support for the Yemeni government in dealing with the al-Qaeda-linked insurgents.

Qatan was killed and two of his guards in a suicide attack in Aden on Monday morning.

Five people passing in the street, including two women were injured in the incident.

AF
Saba