KAILUA (Hawaii}: A wing of Al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for a failed Christmas Day attack on a US-bound passenger plane, and President Barack Obama vowed to bring 'every element' of US power against those who threaten Americans' safety.

In a statement posted on Islamist websites, the group Al-Qaeda In The Arabian Peninsula said the attempt was to avenge US attacks on its members in Yemen.

The group said it had provided the Nigerian suspect in the failed airliner bombing with a 'technically advanced device' but that it did not detonate because of a technical fault.

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