U.S. and assisted in antiterrorism measures. In Oct. 2002, a French tanker, the Limburg, was also the victim of a terrorist attack off the coast of Yemen. Ten suspects of the Cole bombing escaped from prison in April 2003; seven, including the two suspected masterminds of the attack, were recaptured in 2004. Fifteen militants were convicted in Aug. 2004 on a variety of charges, including the attack on the Limburg. In September, two key al-Qaeda operatives involved in the Cole bombing were sentenced to death.

In presidential elections in Sept. 2006, incumbent Ali Abdullah Saleh was reelected with 77% of the vote. In March 2007, President Saleh appointed Ali Muhammad Mujawar prime minister and asked him to form a cabinet.

The government and a rebel group from northern Yemen, called the Houthi movement, signed a cease-fire in February 2008. Thousands have died since the two sides began fighting in 2004. The truce appeared to have fallen apart just a month later, as battles broke out between the parties broke out again. The government has accused the Houthi movement of receiving aid from Iran.

Source: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/yemen