CAIRO [MENL] -- Yemen has launched a crackdown on Al Qaida.

Arab diplomatic sources said Yemeni authorities have detained dozens of suspected Al Qaida insurgents in several cities. The sources said at least 50 suspects have been arrested in 20 locations.

The arrests took place in Aden and Sanaa as well as in the regions of Abin and Taiz. The sources said the suspects were charged with planning to restore an Al Qaida network in Yemen.

On Aug. 31, the United Arab Emirates daily Al Bayan reported that the suspects had served time in prison. But the newspaper said they were released in 2004 under a rehabilitation program led by Judge Hamud Al Hitar.