President Ali Abdullah Saleh received Monday a letter from US President Barack Obama concerning the bilateral relationship and partnership in the fight on terror in addition to the issue of the rest Gitmo Yemeni detainees.

In the letter that was delivered by the US assistant to President for National Security Affairs John. P, Obama also discussed issues of mutual concern, affirming the US will continue to support development and stability in Yemen.

At the meeting, President Saleh renewed Yemen's calls for the release of Yemeni inmates at the Gunatanamo Bay, Cuba, and transferring them to the homeland, pointing to Yemen's refusal to a recent US move to hand over the detainees to another Arab country.

Three days ago, US media reported that US authorities had talked to Saudis over handing over a hundred of the rest Gitmo Yemeni detainees to the kingdom, a move which was absolutely dismissed by Yemen. The US doubts Yemen will rehabilitate its Gitmo returnees well to ensure they will never rejoin terrorist groups.

In unrelated news, President Ali Abdullah Saleh said, on a visit to the Yemen's largest islands of Socotra, Yemen will strengthen the presence of the national navy and coastguards on the island as he ordered the island be annexed to the Local Administration Ministry.

"Enough Yemeni troops on the island will help monitor the country territorial waters and fisheries wealth and support fishermen when they are in need of help," President Saleh said.

The integration between troops and locals on the island would be magnificent, he said.

Saleh landed in Socotra on Sunday for a visit to inspect the conditions of the Yemeni people there. He toured several of the archipelago islands as well as the military base in the island.

During the tour, Saleh ordered to complete the implementation of main roads and other development projects as soon as possible.