Head of a dialogue committee with Al-Qaeda Hamoud Al-Hitar has affirmed that force is not enough to defeat terrorism, calling for creating an ideological strategy to combat terrorism.
During his meeting with the European Union Counter-terrorism Coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, Al-Hitar suggested that ministries of education, culture, youth, media, and guide and endowment must be take part in forming the strategy.
Al-Hitar who served as a minister of endowment and guidance called religious scholars and preachers to "immune youth" from radical thoughts and eradicate misconceptions.
Al-Hitar who persuaded dozens of Al-Qaeda militants to give up violence in the period from 2002 to 2005 reviewed measures taken by Yemen to combat terrorism and how to enhance and develop them to maintain security and stability and consolidate moderation and tolerance.
They further discussed regional and international cooperation to combat terrorism, asserting that terrorism has no a religion or a nation.
Al-Hitar highly appreciated efforts exerted by the European Union to combat terrorism.
He had told Al-Jomhoria Newsapaper that Al-Qaeda was propped up with the aim of distorting the image of the peaceful struggle in the South and the peaceful uprising that broke out in 2011, hinting that some official of the former regime headed by Ali Abdullah Saleh want to turn Yemen to another Somalia.
He described Ansar Al-Shariah (supporters of the Islamic Law) as a blend of Al-Qaeda militants, elements of the armed Southern Movement and supporters of Saleh.
He reiterated that some relatives of Saleh personally contacted with Al-Qaeda operatives and hampered the completion of investigation on the case of USS Cole.