1.   He is now so thoroughly assimilated that he regularly chews qat, the mildly stimulating green leaf that in strictly Muslim Yemen replaces alcohol as a social icebreaker.

2.   He said he had held many productive meetings with Yemeni ministers chewing qat and added that Sanaa craftsmen continue to work while chewing the substance.

3.   Many Yemenis chew qat every day.

4.   Soldiers rested in the trees, while others chewed qat, a green leaf which is a mild intoxicant.

5.   Thanks to qat, hard drugs like heroin that transit Yemen are not consumed here, according to diplomats who often chew qat with their hosts.