51.   Tribesmen occasionally kidnap foreigners to demand money or public services from the Yemeni government.

52.   U.S. officials are pressing the Yemeni government to arrest any al-Qaida members in the country.

53.   Tribesmen in Yemen often use kidnappings to pressure the Yemeni government for money or projects.

54.   U.S. officials have pressured the Yemeni government to crack down on al-Qaida cells in Yemen.

55.   U.S. diplomats have insisted the Yemeni government is not suspected of any terrorists links.

56.   U.S. officials have pressed the Yemeni government to crack down on al-Qaida cells in the country.

57.   U.S. officials pressed the Yemeni government to arrest any al-Qaida members in the country.

58.   Vesperini said the Yemeni government had carried out the negotiations with the two groups of kidnappers.

59.   Vesperini said the Yemeni government carried out the negotiations with two groups of kidnappers but he did not know the details.

60.   Well-armed tribal fiefdoms have made it difficult for the Yemeni government to impose the rule of law in Marib province, where tribal influence generally outweighs government law.