Yemen's Interior Ministry is offering a $ 50000 reward for information leading to the arrest of two most wanted Al-Qaeda members named as Turki Sa'ad Muhammad Qulais Al-Shahrani and Ahmed Abdul Aziz Jasir Al-Jasir.

The two suspects are Saudi nationals, and the ministry urged the public to cooperate with the security authorities on hunting all wanted suspects.

It also warned against sheltering terrorist elements, saying hiding information about wanted suspects is a crime whose perpetrators would be held accountable.

The announcement comes five days after the ministry offered a $ 100000 reward for information about other eight wanted suspects, who were said to have been recruited and trained by senior Al-Qaeda members to stage terrorist and suicide attacks against domestic and foreign interests and tourists.

It also comes amid warnings on possible attacks by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula AQAP, which was announced early last year when Al-Qaeda wings in Yemen and Saudi Arabia merged and vowed to launch murderous attacks.

In recent months, AQAP has stepped up attacks against security buildings, patrols, officers and local officials, military convoys and vehicles and other vital local and foreign interests in south and north Yemen, mainly in southern and southeastern regions.

In response, the authorities have been launching large-scale operations against and a massive hunt for militants killing, wounding and arresting many of them.

They also said serious documents about Al-Qaeda plans were found in raided positions and hideouts.