New Yemeni President says 'war on Al-Qaeda has not started yet'

Sanaa, May 6 (ANI): Yemen's new President, Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi, has renewed his commitment to crush Al-Qaeda militants who control the country's southern cities, and added that the real battle with the terror outfit is yet to start.

"I would like to tell those terrorists who distorted the glorious image of Islam that the real battle hasn't begun yet," the Gulf News quoted Hadi, as saying.

"It will only end when we clear all districts, villages [from Al Qaeda], displaced people return home and when the members of the terrorist organisation lay down their arms and renounce violence," he added.

Hadi also vowed that he wouldn't allow the army to remain divided and there will be only "one commander for police, one commander for the military and only one commander-in-chief for both"

"We all know that the talk about the stability and security of any nation will be meaningless without a unified, strong and qualified army," the report quoted Hadi, as saying.

"Using my authority, which is backed by popular legitimacy, I would like to emphasise that I will not allow the continuity of army division," he added. (ANI)