Yemen aims to capture senior al Qaeda figures

Yemeni security forces launched a major operation onTuesday to detain a Saudi bomb maker suspected of being behind th recent U.S.-bound bomb parcels. The goal of the operation in the provinces of Maarib and Shabwa was to capture Ibrahim al-Asiri, as well as the U.S.-born preacher Anwar al-Awlaki, who is wanted by Washingtonfor his links to al Qaeda, a Yemeni security official said.

 Meanwhile, Yemeni authorities started the trial in absentia of al-Awlaki.

"Asiri is believed to be hiding and moving with senior al Qaeda elements such as (Yemen al Qaeda leader) Nasseral-Wahayshi. Security intelligence are still tracking them downto exactly identify their whereabouts," the official said, according to Reuters.

"The campaign includes intensive intelligence and militarywork," he added.