Oman is investigating intelligence reports that Al Qaeda members have entered the country from Yemen, its southern neighbour, a key government official has revealed.

Secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidy, talking exclusively to state-owned Arabic daily Oman on Monday, said security services had received reports about elements of Al Qaeda infiltrating the sultanate from Yemen, but added that the information was not fully confirmed so far.

He said security forces were investigating the reports before taking action, also making clear that no one had been arrested as yet.

“This is a top security matter and a highly sensitive issue that should remain within a limited frame among the parties concerned,” Sayyid Badr told the paper, adding: “But when there exists a need to elaborate, more details will be released in future.”

He said the issue must be seen within the context of the various developments and threats faced by the region and the world at large, “and we are no exception.”

Sayyid Badr stressed that the country’s security forces were closely following up the matter “and are fully shouldering their responsibility to deter any threat that might constitute a risk, not only for the sultanate, but also for the grouping of the regionâs countries in general.”

He said it would deal within the context of the existing “co-ordination and communication between the sultanate and the countries of the region.”

The intelligence reports indicated that Al Qaeda members were sneaking into Oman through its borders with Yemen in the backdrop of heavy confrontation between insurgents and the army in the Yemeni governorate of Shabwa.