‘Iron Fist’ Is Urged in Handling Security Peril

Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered his forces to use an “iron fist” to deal with any security threat as the country hunted for suspected supporters of Osama bin Laden.

Saleh ordered security officers “to firmly confront elements who undermine security and stability and . . . hit with an iron fist against those who try to compromise the country’s security,” the state-run television reported.

Saleh’s meeting with officials from the ministries of interior and defense came after the deaths of 18 government troops in clashes with suspected militants of Bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terrorist network and their tribal hosts.