The Yemeni tribe of a Muslim cleric on Friday denounced plans approved by the Obama administration to capture or kill the U.S.-born radical Islamist.
"We warn against cooperating with America to kill Sheikh Anwar al-Awlaki," the Awalik, one of Yemen's largest tribes, said in a statement sent to Reuters.
"We will not stand by idly and watch," the statement said, adding that tribal leaders had discussed and voiced protest against "the reckless act by the U.S. government to allow the killing of the brave sheikh."
U.S. officials said on Tuesday that the Obama administration had authorized operations to capture or kill U.S.-born Muslim cleric Awlaki -- a leading figure linked to al Qaeda's Yemen-based regional wing which claimed responsibility for a failed bombing of a U.S.-bound plane in December.
Heavily armed tribes in Yemen, the poorest Arab country, often try to protect their kin by entering into negotiations with the government to gain their release or favorable treatment. At times, they have kidnapped foreign tourists to pressure the government.
Western countries fear that al Qaeda's resurgent regional wing is exploiting instability in Yemen to launch attacks in the region and beyond.
Yemen has carried out air strikes with U.S. assistance to target al Qaeda leaders, but there have been conflicting reports about whether Awlaki was present during any of those attacks. U.S. officials believe he remains in hiding in Yemen.
Awlaki had contacts with a Nigerian suspect in the attempted bombing of the transatlantic passenger plane and with a U.S. Army psychiatrist accused of shooting dead 13 people at a military base in Texas on November 5.
Born in New Mexico, Awlaki led prayers at U.S. mosques. He returned to Yemen in 2004 where he taught at a university before he was arrested and imprisoned in 2006 for suspected links to al Qaeda and involvement in attacks. Awlaki was released in December 2007 after he was said to have repented.