Al Attiyah to attend London conference on Yemen

Riyadh: The Secretary General of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah will attend the London Conference on Yemen. The conference is being convened by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on January 28 to discuss the situation in Yemen.

In a statement released by the GCC General Secretariat, Al Attiyah said he had received an invitation from the British government to take part in the conference.

He reiterated the determination of GCC states to stand by Yemen in its efforts to protect the unity and integrity of the country as well as to restore stability in the strife-torn northern regions.

Invitations have been extended to foreign ministers of the GCC states and other countries in the region as well as to major world powers.

Speaking to Gulf News in Riyadh, Yemeni Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Ali Al Ahwal said that Saudi Arabia had confirmed its attendance at the conference.

"The kingdom will renew its clear-cut position with regard to Yemeni issues at the conference," he said. Saudi Arabia has pledged its support for Yemen in its efforts to protect its unity and sovereignty and to foil the efforts of the Al Houthi rebels to undermine its security.