Hillary Clinton urges Yemen to 'take ownership' of its problems (click here)
Yemen needs to demonstrate that it can reduce corruption, improve governance and use foreign aid effectively if relief money is to continue flowing, the secretary of State says.
January 27, 2010 | 8:55 p.m.
Reporting from London - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton bluntly warned Yemen's leaders Wednesday to "take ownership" of their own long-festering problems -- corruption, internal strife and poor governance -- if they hope to overcome threats from Islamist extremists and poverty.Clinton's comments reflected the apprehension of the Obama administration as it once again faces a dire security threat from a Muslim country whose government is marred by corruption and incompetence, like those in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
"Yemen must take ownership of the challenges it faces, and of its internal affairs," Clinton said at a 20-nation gathering convened to reinvigorate international efforts to provide assistance to a country that has become a terrorist hot spot....
She was in London during the State of the Union.
Clinton Attending London Meetings On Afghanistan And Yemen (click here)
By Korva Coleman
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is flying to London tonight for an international meeting about Afghanistan and Yemen. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports the Afghan part of the conference had long been planned....
Clinton criticizes Nigeria for poor living standards that foment extremism (click here)
2:39 p.m. EST, January 26, 2010
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Nigeria on Tuesday for corruption and poor living standards that she said encourage the sort of extremism typified by the attempted bombing of an American airliner.
Speaking at a town hall meeting of State Departmrent employees, Clinton said the Nigerian government has failed for years to address the legitimate needs of its people. She said that has contributed to a growing sense of alienation, particularly among the young who are then more susceptible to extremist ideologies.
"The failure of the Nigerian leadership over many years to respond to the legitimate needs of their own young people, to have a government that promoted a meritocracy, that really understood that democracy can't just be given lip service, it has to be delivering services to the people, has meant there is a lot of alienation in that country and others," she said....
* No plans to meet Iran foreign minister, if he attends
* U.S. seeking Indonesia's help to pressure Tehran
By Andrew Quinn
LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's trip to London this week is officially focused on Afghanistan and Yemen, but she will also talk to the major powers about what to do next in the nuclear deadlock with Iran.
Clinton will also will seek to enlist more countries such as Indonesia to bring pressure on the Iranians, a senior U.S. official said.
"It is fair to say that Iran will be a fairly important element of her trip here," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Clinton's London trip includes a Wednesday meeting on assisting Yemen root out al Qaeda militancy and a Thursday conference on Afghanistan, where the United States is leading a major military build-up in the fight against Taliban insurgents.
But Iran, a regional power locked in a deepening stand-off with the rest of the world over its nuclear programme, looms in the background as a potential flashpoint....
