SANAA, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Yemeni police have arrested 135 people in link with the jailbreak of 23 suspected al-Qaida militants on Feb. 3 from a Sanaa prison, security officials said Wednesday.

    The police said they have got "important information" from the detainees, but they did not give details.

    After the breakout, the authorities suspended the work of a number of jailers suspected of providing information and tools to the escaped criminals.

    The Yemeni government refused to give in to the U.S. pressure for interrogation of the arrestees, citing the need for keeping the country's sovereignty intact.

    The Yemen's security agencies have set up a number of checkpoints as part of the measures to hunt for the fugitives and the government also announced a reward of 27,800 U.S. dollars for information leading to the arrest of the escaped militants.

    The U.S. Embassy in Yemen also issued a statement on its website Tuesday, warning Americans in the Arab country to be more security-conscious. It warned that the "escape ... has highlighted the need for Americans to review their personal security practices."

    The fugitives, who tunneled their way out of prison, include the leaders of the 2000 bombing of the U.S. warship Cole and the 2002 attack on a French supertanker. Enditem