<p>"President Obama called President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen on February 2 to welcome the significant reform measures that President Saleh had announced earlier that day, and to stress that President Saleh now needs to follow-up his pledge with concrete actions," White House said in a statement.<br /><br />Obama asked Yemeni security forces to show restraint and refrain from violence against demonstrators, who are exercising their right to free association, assembly and speech.<br />The US President told Saleh it is imperative that Yemen takes forceful action against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to protect innocent lives in Yemen as well as abroad.<br /><br />"President Obama expressed concern over the release of Abd-Ilah al-Shai, who had been sentenced to five years in prison for his association with AQAP," it said.<br /><br />Saleh thanked Obama for US' support and said Yemen is committed to continuing and strengthening its relations with the United States, White House stated.</p>
<p>"President Obama called President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen on February 2 to welcome the significant reform measures that President Saleh had announced earlier that day, and to stress that President Saleh now needs to follow-up his pledge with concrete actions," White House said in a statement.<br /><br />Obama asked Yemeni security forces to show restraint and refrain from violence against demonstrators, who are exercising their right to free association, assembly and speech.<br />The US President told Saleh it is imperative that Yemen takes forceful action against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to protect innocent lives in Yemen as well as abroad.<br /><br />"President Obama expressed concern over the release of Abd-Ilah al-Shai, who had been sentenced to five years in prison for his association with AQAP," it said.<br /><br />Saleh thanked Obama for US' support and said Yemen is committed to continuing and strengthening its relations with the United States, White House stated.</p>