Yemeni security forces are currently pursuing cleric, Anwar Al-Aulaqi, who allegedly had links to Nedal Hassan who carried out the deadly attack in the port of Fort Hood army base, opposition media reported.

Reports have revealed that there were links between the two men where Hassan was frequently visited a mosque in the state of Virginia, in which imam Al-Aulaqi was leading prayers.

It is reported that the Yemeni authorities had arrested Al-Aulaqi in 2006, on suspicion of holding up religious militants to kidnapping foreigners, but he was released due lack of evidence of any direct link to Al-Qaeda.

It is also reported that Al-Aulaqi who uses its website to urge Muslims in the world to kill American soldiers in Iraq, had disappeared some eight months ago in Yemen.

The Yemeni security authorities say they believe Al-Aulaqi is hiding now a mountainous area in Yemen, which is believed to be one of the safe havens for Islamist militants.

According to investigations conducted by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Al-Aulaqi had sent Hassan 20 e-mail via the Internet in a few months last year.

A few days ago the Washington Post reported that investigators were looking into possible links between Al-Aulaqi, who was working as Imam of a mosque in Virginia, and officials in Al-Qaeda, including two of the perpetrators of the attacks of 11 September.

Hassan, who was a psychiatrist in the army, had opened fire from two handguns on the soldiers in a hospital in Fort Hood army base, before police were able to prevent him from shooting.