UAE denies Yemen's Houthi claims about missile launch at nuke plant

DUBAI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday denied the claims by Yemen's Houthi rebels about firing a ballistic missile at its nuclear plant under construction.

The Houthi rebels claimed to have fired a cruise missile at the Barakah nuclear plant in Abu Dhabi, its TV station reported on its website earlier Sunday.

"The UAE's air defense system is capable of dealing with any threats," the official WAM news agency quoted the UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) as saying in a statement.

The authority noted that the Barakah nuclear plant has all necessary safety and security measures in place to avert crises.

The nuclear plant, which consists of four nuclear reactors under construction, is located in southwest of the UAE.

The NCEMA reassured UAE citizens and residents that "the nation is safe," stressing that the country will always maintain its safety and security.

It also advised the general public not to pay attention to such rumors disseminated by media agencies issuing false news that question the UAE's capabilities, strength and security.

The UAE is part of a Saudi-led coalition that has been fighting both the Shiite Houthi rebels and supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 2015 to support the internationally-recognized government led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

But clashes have erupted between the Houthi rebels and Saleh supporters in the past week, as the latter managed to control the majority of the capital city Sanaa. Saleh has signaled his willingness to open a "new page" in his relations with the Saudi-led coalition. Enditem