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Russia suspends diplomatic presence in Yemen

AFP/Moscow

December 12, 2017 | 07:18 PM

Yemeni fighters loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni president are seen with their vehicles on the road leading to the town of Khokha which was retaken from Houthi rebels.

Russia has halted its diplomatic presence in Yemen and its embassy staff have left the country amid the deepening conflict between the government and Houthi rebels, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"Considering the situation in Sanaa, a decision has been taken to temporarily suspend Russia's diplomatic presence in Yemen. All employees of the Russian embassy have left the country," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was quoted by news agencies as saying."The Russian ambassador and some of the Russian diplomatic corps accredited in Yemen will carry out their duties in Riyadh," she added.More than 8,750 people have been killed since Saudi Arabia and its allies joined the government's fight against the Houthis in 2015, triggering what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis.Russia has previously expressed concern about the strikes by the Saudi-led coalition, which killed 26 people at the weekend, following the killing of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh at the hands of the Houthis.

By AFP/Moscow

December 12, 2017 | 07:18 PM