Saudi Arabia suspends embassy operations in Yemen
Xinhua, February 14, 2015 Adjust font size:
The Saudi Foreign Ministry announced Friday the suspension of all operations in its embassy in Yemen due to security fears, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
The embassy staff were asked to leave the country and return to Saudi Arabia, the ministry said, adding that the decision was made as the security and political situations in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa have been deteriorating.
Security situation has deteriorated in Yemen since January when the Shiite Houthi group seized the presidential palace in Sanaa after deadly clashes with presidential guards.
On Feb. 6, the Houthi group announced a unilateral move to dissolve the parliament and form a presidential council to take over power after Yemeni president and prime minister resigned, which was rejected by Yemen's political parties and denounced by the Gulf Arab states.
The political impasse in Yemen also promoted the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Germany to withdraw their diplomatic staff in Sanaa, citing the security situation.
However, the Houthi group said recently that Western powers had no reason to shut their embassies, insisting the security was solid in Sanaa. Endit