A report issued by the Middle East Institute in Moscow disclosed that Yemen has been and will Al-Qaeda's an important strategic point through which it started its programs designed to control the situation.

It said that Al-Qaeda uses Yemen to transport fighters to participate in combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and East Africa, adding that Al-Qaeda in Yemen based on a number of factors and means to help its elements straighten out there.

It also pointed out that Al-Qaeda found a suitable environment in Yemen due to several factors, including Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden' origin, and Yemeni extremists' experience obtained in military operations in hot spots.

The report added that the Islamists strengthened their positions in the last two years in Yemen, and said they have shown willingness to carry out terrorist acts.

Al-Qaeda regional leader in Yemen, Nasser Al-Wahiashi has been pursuing a flexible policy in the region in order to get the support of the tribal leaders in the south of the country, the report said, adding that Al-Qaeda exploited the southern mobility's offense against the central authority in Sana'a to implement its objectives.

The report suggested that Al-Qaeda fighters were leaving Pakistan and Afghanistan and said this renewed international concerns that Yemen was reemerging once again as a major terrorist safe haven.

Meanwhile, observers said that the current life of Al-Qaeda in Yemen has more recruits -- and younger recruits -- than ever, due to Al-Wahayshi's powerful propaganda as well as the lack of opportunity and an incipient breakdown in traditional social authorities.

However, President Ali Abdullah Saleh paid a high price for allowing the United States to carry out the attack against Al-Qaeda and it took more than a year for the government to publicly admit that it had authorized Washington to act.