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2nd LD: Yemen cuts diplomatic relations with Iran: spokesman

Xinhua, October 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government announced Friday to cut off diplomatic relations with Iran which was accused of supporting the Shiite Houthi group to overthrow President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, a spokesman told Xinhua.

"From today (Friday), the government officially put an end to all diplomatic relations and political ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran," the government spokesman, Rajeh Badi, who is in Aden told Xinhua by phone.

"The decision came after Iran repeatedly intervened in Yemen's internal affairs and supported sabotage acts in the country such as sending weapons to Houthi militia," Badi said.

He added that "Yemen's embassy staff in Tehran may leave Iran soon after closing the embassy."

Yemen's state-owned Aden TV has aired the announcement severing ties with Iran.

The Yemeni government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, has long accused Iran of arming and financing the Shiite Houthi Houthi against President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, but Iran was denied the accusation.

Iran still has its embassy in Yemen's capital of Sanaa which has been controlled by the Houthis since September 2014.

The Saudi-led coalition of nine countries has carried out military operations against Houthis in Yemen since late March in an effort to restore Hadi's authority. The Yemeni government has recently returned to the country's temporary capital of Aden after six months of exile in Riyadh.

The airstrikes by the coalition and ground battles in Yemen have left about 5,000 people killed, half of them being civilians, and more than 1.5 million people displaced. Endit