U.S. air strikes against presumed Al-Qaeda targets in Yemen stopped in December 2009 after the Yemeni government found they had come out with no results, Foreign Minister said on Thursday.

The fight against Al-Qaeda in the country is the responsibility of the national authorities, and those who want Yemen to win this war should support its security systems and counterterrorism forces, Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi said.

Al-Qirbi, however, did not confirm or deny a $ 1-billion deal with the U.S. to fight Al-Qaeda in Yemen, saying none can decide on such a deal but the U.S. Congress.

Also, he said Yemen will not hand over wanted radical cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki, once he is arrested, to the United States, pointing out that the U.S.-born Yemeni cleric is now in the region where the forces are launching a massive hunt for Al-Qaeda operatives.

Al-Awlaki is a mark and the forces are doing their best in hunting him after the cleanup operations against Al-Qaeda in Shabwa, he said.

Al-Awlaki tribal links are not a roadblock to his hunt or arrest and the United States has requested the hand-over of other U.S.-born Yemeni wanted suspects, but the Yemeni constitution prevents handing Yemeni citizens to another country, he added.

Moreover, he denied Yemen is exploiting the Saada issue to avoid tackling other big problems such fighting Al-Qaeda and addressing the tensions in the south.