SANAA EAC MEETING 05/07/2005

S E C R E T SANAA 001220 SIPDIS NOFORN DS/DSS, DS/IP/NEA, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/ICI/PII, S/CT, NEA, NEA/ ARP, NEA/EX, NEA/P, CA, CENTCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2015 TAGS: AMGT ASEC PREL PTER EAC SUBJECT: SANAA EAC MEETING 05/07/2005 REF: A. SECSTATE 84624 ¶B. SANAA 1133 ¶C. SANAA 1052 ¶D. SANAA 1040 ¶E. SANAA 998 ¶F. SANAA 955 ¶G. SANAA 912 ¶H. SANAA 896 ¶I. SANAA 895 ¶J. SANAA 891 ¶K. SANAA 883 ¶L. SANAA 882 ¶M. SANAA 860 ¶N. SANAA 836 Classified By: RSO Timothy Laas for reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Post EAC convened on May 7 at 11:00 A.M. to review Department guidance on the lifting of Authorized Departure status (reftel A) and to determine next steps for post. Key offices and personnel represented at the meeting included: AMB, DCM, DAT, FPD, IPC, MO, LEGATT, POLE, OMC, RSO, CONS, PD and USAID. ¶2. (S/NF) The Ambassador reviewed post requirements following the expiration of Authorized Departure status, tasking EAC members with compiling lessons-learned as well as coordinating the return of Mission evacuees to post. EAC members also agreed to release a Warden Message informing the public of the expiration of Authorized Departure. ¶3. (S/NF) RSO informed the EAC about several reports of incidents over the weekend to include a confirmed attack by a ROYG soldier on his supervisor who has subsequently died of his wounds at a military base located within Sanaa: According to RSO the ROYG contacts deny the attack was against the commander of the base who shares the same family name as the man killed by gunfire by his subordinate. Additionally, RSO noted reports of an incident in the Al-Haja area that was rumored to have been an assassination attempt against Yemen,s President Saleh, while he was touring in Hodiedah on 6 May 2005. Press reports and RSO sources only confirmed clashes between ROYG security personnel and persons associated with the Zaidi sect in the vicinity of the Presidential visit, but denied any attempt to attack the President. Additionally, RSO briefed EAC members that ROYG contacts confirm the discovery of "many" rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) which the source thought were found in three houses located in or around the Sawan District, on Thursday, 6 May 2005: Sawan is the district where the American Embassy is located. While information regarding the reports needs further analysis and confirmation, EAC members agreed that they warrant close monitoring. ¶4. (SBU) The EAC will convene again on May 15 to review any changes to the threat environment. Krajeski