Without going into specifics of reports related to Yemen, the State Department spokesperson, Robert Wood told reporters in response to a question that the US is working with partners across the globe to eliminate the threat of Al Qaeda.

It's not easy. This is a growing challenge for the United States," Wood said and referred to the recent statement of President Barack Obama in which he had said that "this is something that the US has to meet, there is no alternative but to meet this challenge".

"We need to work closely with our partners and others around the world to try to do what we can to eliminate the threat," Wood said.

He said there are concerns about Al-Qaeda activity in a number of places around the world, not just Yemen.