Jun 17, 2006, 16:58 GMT
Sana'a - Yemeni and British navy forces began Saturday a three-day joint exercise in the Gulf of Aden aimed at boosting the capabilities of the Yemeni coast guard, Yemen's official news agency Saba reported.
The exercise, in which five British naval ships were participating, was being held 60 miles off the coast of the southern post city of Aden, the agency said.
'The exercise is bound to strengthen abilities of the Yemeni coast guard forces in intercepting ships and combating terrorism and sea piracy,' Saba said.
In the past week, British Royal Navy experts have been training Yemeni naval troops taking part in the exercise.
Yemen, an impoverished country located at the south-western tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is a close ally to the United States in the so-called war on terrorism. It has rounded up hundreds of suspected al-Qaeda members since the September 2001 terror attacks on the US.
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