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Russia warns against internationalization of Yemen conflict

Xinhua, March 31, 2015 Adjust font size:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday warned against attempts to trigger conflict between Arab countries and Iran over the Yemen situation.

"Russia would not allow this to happen and would do everything in its power to avoid the transformation of the Yemeni domestic conflict into an open confrontation between the Arab world and Iran," Lavrov said at a press conference.

The minister said that possibilities of deteriorating the current crisis into a Sunni-Shia confrontation must be prevented.

Lavrov also called on parties in Yemen to hold talks on neutral territory and urged confronting sides in the Arab country to cease hostilities and stop any use of force by either side.

Yemen is currently suffering from political unrest and clashes between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemeni President Abd-Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who has fled the country.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies on Thursday launched airstrikes on the Shiite Houthi group that has seized parts of Yemen including the capital Sanaa and is closing in on the southern port city of Aden. Endi