Yemeni authorities are investigating how the alleged culprit in the thwarted bombing of a US plane on Christmas Day managed to leave Yemen despite overstaying his visa.
Umar Farouk Abdulmatallab disappeared inside Yemen for 42 days, from the day his permit expired on September 24 until he left on December 7 from the capital's airport.
"Authorities are investigating with police officers at the airport to find out how he managed to leave the country although his permit to stay had expired," an official said.
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People overstaying their visas in Yemen are not easily allowed to leave the country, and are usually taken into custody until they settle their violation by paying a fine.
'Unknown destination'
The official said that on September 24 Abdulmutallab had left the Arabic language institute in Sanaa - his official host in the country - and headed to the airport.
But on arrival at the airport, he changed taxis and travelled to an unknown destination, the official said.
He resurfaced on December 7 at Sanaa airport, with a reservation on a flight to Dubai, but he changed his ticket to board a plane to Addis Ababa, the official said.
The United States has accused the Al-Qaeda branch in Yemen of training Abdulmutallab, who tried to blow up a Northwest Airline flight before it landed in Detroit.
