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France to close embassy in Yemen over security concerns

Xinhua, February 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

France will close its embassy in Yemen from Friday due to security concerns, the embassy said on Wednesday.

The embassy has asked French citizens to leave Yemen as soon as possible.

"Given the latest political developments and for security reasons, the embassy asks (expatriates) to temporarily leave Yemen as quickly as possible," the embassy said in a statement posted on its website.

"The embassy will be closed from February 13 until further notice," it added.

France's decision to close its embassy in Yemen came a day after the United States shut its embassy in the country where a political vacuum has increased the risks of a civil war.

On Friday, Yemen's Shiite Houthi group announced its unilateral move to dissolve the parliament and form a presidential council to take over power after the country's president and premier resigned last month.

The Shiite Houthi group, also known as Ansarullah and based in the far northern province of Saada, has been expanding its influence southward. Enditem