UK: ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST WARNS AGAINST TRAVELLING TO YEMEN

English/Nat A London-based Islamic fundamentalist has warned Britons and Americans against travelling to Yemen - and called for the overthrow of the Yemeni government. But Sheikh Abu Hamza al Misary - who is related to one of the 5 men detained in Yemen - denied any knowledge of terrorist actions. Sheikh Abu Hamza said on Wednesday that he blamed the policies of the Yemeni goverment for the recent spate of kidnappings. At the press conference in the centarl London he denied why the five including his son were in Yemen. But he openly admit his activities against Yemeni government. SOUNDBITE (English): "They say that I'm interested to overthrow the Yemeni government. Yes indeed, not just the Yemeni government but all oppressive regimes who have been taking over after the British have left their colonies. They are still slaughtering the people on your behalf. They are still oppressing their own people on your behalf, and they are still abusing their power. There is no justice. This is not special thing with Yemen. We speak about any tyrannic regime who is not ruling its people by Islam. And with regard to my children, I know that they (the Yemeni government) are blackmailing me. You said that one of my sons is on the run. Who told you this? The Yemeni government admit that they have arrested him, and when the counsel went to see him, they say they only have his papers. Now, can you guarantee me under this tyrannic regime they have not killed him under torture? He could have been killed now." SUPERCAPTION: Sheikh Abu Hamza, Islamic Cleric Sheikh Abu Hamza confirmed that he'd been in contact with the leader of the group that is alleged to have kidnapped 16 westerners in Yemen last year. Three Britons and an Australian were killed when Yemeni troops stormed their hideout. SOUNDBITE (English): " We received message from the Sheikh Abu Hassan. It was on the same very day of the kidnapping. We did issued a statement about it, and we are very said that this statement was ignored by the most of the newspapers. He phoned us basically to say: "Could you please tell the world that we are now holding 16 foreigners." He wasn't sure about the nationalities at the time, and he wanted to say that he doesn't think that the Yemeni government will deal with that issue as with the other issues for many reasons. One of which that he will lead the negotiation himself, an he is a wanted man as a leader of the "army", and there is the ransom of 2 million Riyal's on his head. So I advise him as well, I said: " If you lead the negotiation yourself, it's a threat to yourself and is a threat for the hostage" SUPERCAPTION: Sheikh Abu Hamza Sheikh Abu Hamza also denied that he had links with the network run by Osama bin Laden - although he described bin Laden as a "man of honour" and said he would be welcome the chance to meet him. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/bf7f6ff8fb22e340aeca23ec062f8983 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork