Gulf | Yemen
Yemen says US, UK travel warnings 'unjustifiable'
Instructions from the US for its Yemen embassy to be evacuated and the British warning against travelling to Yemen only serve terrorists' interests and harm Yemen, said the Yemeni foreign minister on Monday.
- By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
- Published: 23:58 April 14, 2008
Sana'a: Instructions from the US for its Yemen embassy to be evacuated and the British warning against travelling to Yemen only serve terrorists' interests and harm Yemen, said the Yemeni foreign minister on Monday.
Speaking to Gulf News, the Minister Abu Bakr Al Querbi said the measures taken by the US and UK governments on their citizens were "unjustifiable."
The US Department of State has ordered non-essential staff at the embassy in Sana'a to leave and the UK has warned citizens against travelling to Yemen after two failed attacks claimed by Al Qaida targeted Americans in Sana'a.
The minister denied reports America had cancelled his visit to the United States this week, saying it had only been postponed.
"The postponement came upon a request from our side in order to finalise the preparations with the different bodies of the American administration," the minister told Gulf News.
Local reports said earlier that the official's visit was cancelled by the US because Yemen refused to extradite Jamal Al Badwi, an Al Qaida suspect jailed in Yemen, who is accused of masterminding the Cole bombing in Yemen 2000 in which 17 US sailors were killed.
Dialogue
Regarding the protests in the southern part of Yemen, the official denied reports about external mediation to solve the problems behind the protests.
"Yemen doesn't need any foreign mediation but it needs national efforts and cooperation between the Yemen government and opposition to solve this issue," he said. The minister said the only way to solve the problems was dialogue. "A true intention from all parties for dialogue and hard work to solve the issues is the only way for a solution to be successful."
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