SANAA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Ivan Lewis reaffirmed on Tuesday his country's support for the Yemeni government against the growing threat of al-Qaida.

"Security and stability are essential for Yemen, and al-Qaida must be defeated in this country as it poses threat not to Yemen only, but also the world," Lewis told a press conference in Sanaa following talks with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

"Alongside the military action which is necessary to be taken by the government of Yemen to defeat terrorism, we and the international community will continue to support the Yemeni government and to give the people of Yemen a sense of hope for a good future," said the British official.

British Foreign Office Minister Ivan Lewis (L) addresses a joint press conference with Yemen's Foreign Minister al-Qerbi (R) in Sanaa, capital of Yemen, Feb. 2, 2010. The British diplomat has reiterated support of the Yemeni government to defeat al-Qaida on Tuesday

The British diplomat underlined the importance of fulfilling pledges by the international community to support "security and economic reforms" of the Yemeni government.

Saleh and the British secretary discussed the outcome of London conference on Yemen last month as well as preparations for a donor meeting slated for Feb. 22 in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.