Obama adviser offers US assistance to Yemen leader

President Barack Obama's counterterrorism adviser told Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh on Saturday the United States "stands ready" to aid his government in the fight against al-Qaeda's affiliate there in the wake of a failed bomb plot that originated in Yemen.

The White House said Obama's aide, John Brennan, also "underscored the importance of close counterterrorism cooperation, including the need to work together on the ongoing investigation into the events over the past few days." (Reuters)