Yemeni officials confirmed on Tuesday that saboteurs had once again chosen to cripple Yemen' ability to produce oil, the main source of national income by attacking Marib pipeline (eastern province).
Despite countless tribal mediation, the posting of additional military troops and the back up of local tribal leaders have prevented small armed militia from disrupting the oil industry with their incessant attacks.
"Oil flow came to a near complete halt," said one official to reporters on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
According to sources at the presidential palace the same armed group would be as well responsible for Monday's attack against Marib power lines, which induced a lengthy blackout throughout the entire province.
Sources at the ministry of electricity were keen to note that Electricity Minister Saleh Sumai had long accused former President Ali Abdullah Saleh for the repeated attacks against the country power infrastructures, implying such acts of sabotage could be linked to a recent calls for the former president to stand trial for alleged crimes ( a Yemeni court decided to indict former President Saleh and two of his former generals to answer questions related to the Friday of Dignity massacre. The Attorney General also asked for an investigation to be opened in Saleh's role in a shelling attack agains tribal leaders in May 2011.)
"Those who support sabotage in Marib and attack power stations are remnants of the former regime supported by Saleh," Sumai told local media in early April.
It is important to note that none of the above allegations have been substantiated in a court of law.