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Turkey to evacuate embassy in Yemen

Xinhua, February 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Turkey decided on Sunday to suspend operations of its embassy in Yemen, and to evacuate the diplomatic staff due to the worsening security situation in the country, Turkish media reported.

Ankara planned to shut down its embassy in Sanaa late Sunday after securing the safe return of its citizens, local Daily News reported.

The security situation has deteriorated in Yemen since January when the Shiite Houthi group seized the presidential palace in Sanaa following deadly clashes with presidential guards.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu issued a new travel warning for Turkish citizens on Saturday, urging them to leave Yemen immediately.

The political impasse in Yemen also led the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Germany to withdraw their diplomatic staff in Sanaa, citing unstable security circumstances.

On Feb. 6, the Houthi group announced unilaterally the dissolution of parliament and the formation of a presidential council, a move which was rejected by Yemen's political parties and denounced by Gulf Arab states. Endit