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"I think it is a real concern because the most active and, at this point perhaps the most aggressive, branch of Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, operates out of Yemen," Gates said.
"And we've had counter-terrorism cooperation with President Saleh and the Yemeni security services," the defence secretary added.
"So if that government collapses, or is replaced by one who is dramatically more weak, then I think we'd face some additional challenges out of Yemen, there's no question about it. It's a real problem," he said.