In an interview with the London-based newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat, Mujawar said that poverty is the cause of all problems in Yemen.

"Yes, al-Qaeda is present in Yemen as it is present in all advanced industrial countries", the Yemeni official highlighted.

Mujawar said that the international media had exaggerated the recent events and terrorist threat from Yemen.

He also pointed to the problem of high unemployment among young people in Yemen, saying that the solution to this in the short and medium term is to open the door to Yemeni employment in Gulf States.

The Yemeni Prime Minister attended the London Meeting on Yemen, which was attended by 20 countries and ended last Wednesday with a mutual agreement between Yemen and its international partners to cooperate in order to address the roots of terrorism. The London Meeting focused on supporting the Yemeni government to face and root out extremism, starting with its roots and reasons and supporting development, UK's Foreign Minister David Miliband said in a press conference following the Meeting.

‘’I take this opportunity to talk about the goals of the conference and mechanisms for implementing its decisions as the time comes for taking concrete steps to support Yemen, taking into account respecting the country's sovereignty and independence’’, said Miliband.

‘’Britain and Yemen's friends and partners decided in the meeting, that was called by Prime Minister Gordon Brown early this month, to work together on Yemen's problems, with further aid given to Yemen that must be focused on political and economic landscapes’’.

For her part, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said that Yemen's problems cannot be solved via military operations, but through supporting Yemen's development efforts to achieve stability.

The Meeting addressed Yemen's growing challenges, that if not addressed, risk threatening the stability of the country and broader region. The government of Yemen has identified the following areas which are of most concern and require urgent action.

i) mproved international coordination and support on Yemen.

ii) Work on finding a shared analysis of the challenges facing Yemen, including conditions conducive to radicalisation and instability, and agreement that a comprehensive approach is needed to address them, and ...

iii) The need for greater support and impetus to the political and economic reform agenda, including urgent and concrete action by the government of Yemen. [to be adjusted in the light of Yemeni contributions.

The government of Yemen recognises the urgent need to address these issues which will take sustained and focused engagement. It was agreed that responsibility for tackling these challenges lies first and foremost with the Government of Yemen, drawing on the support of the wider region and international community.

The meeting welcomed:

- The declared commitment of the Government of Yemen to continue to pursue its reform agenda, and to initiate discussion of an IMF programme. This will provide welcome support and help the government to confront immediate challenges.

- The announcement by the GCC Secretary General that he will host a meeting of Gulf and other international donors on Yemen in Riyadh on 22-23 February. The meeting will share analysis on the barriers to effective aid in Yemen, leading to a joint dialogue with the government of Yemen, including on priority reforms.

- The commitment by the international community to supporting the Government of Yemen in the fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. As well as the recent U.N. Sanctions Committee decisions to designate AQAP, and the commitment by participants at this meeting to fully enforce the terms of the designation of AQAP and its leadership under the UNSCR 1267 regime.

- The determination of the international community to engage further in support of Yemeni government efforts to build law enforcement, legislative, judicial and security capacities. Yemen's partners agreed to support Yemeni government initiatives to strengthen their counter-terrorist capabilities, and to enhance aviation and border security. This will include work on both land and maritime borders, including on strengthening the Yemeni Coastguard.

- The launch of a 'Friends of Yemen' process, which will address the broad range of challenges facing Yemen. It will be supported by two working groups on economy and governance, and justice and law enforcement. These should meet in time to report back to the first Friends of Yemen meeting, which should take place in the region inlate March.