Giuliani Calls On Yemen To Rearrest USS Cole Bombing Suspect Jamal Al-Badawi

October 26, 2007 5:54 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Amid the campaign trail, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has called on Yemen to rearrest Jamal al-Badawi, who is believed to be linked to the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole.

"Yesterday, the government of Yemen set free Jamal al-Badawi," Giuliani said. "This is unacceptable. Yemen must turn over al-Badawi to the U.S. for trial in the Southern District of New York, where he already is under indictment for the USS Cole attack."

"Until al-Badawi is re-arrested, America should use all the means at its disposal to pressure Yemen to stop siding with terrorists. As a first step, I urge the U.S. Government to cancel the more than $20 million in aid scheduled to be delivered to Yemen. Terrorists must be held accountable for their actions and so must the governments that offer them safe harbor," Giuliani said.

In April 2003, al-Bedawi escaped from a Yemeni prison, only to be recaptured in March 2004. Then, in February 2006, al-Bedawi was believed to be among another group of prison escapees. On October 17, 2007, al-Badawi surrendered to Yemeni authorities as part of an agreement with al-Qaida militants in the region.

Nonetheless, after signing a pledge not to continue his terror activities, the Yemeni government voluntarily released al-Bedawi.