Britain temporarily closes embassy in Yemen

London, Feb 11 (IANS/EFE) Britain has decided to temporarily close its embassy in Yemen for security reasons and withdraw its diplomatic personnel from the capital city of Sanaa, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said Wednesday.

"The security situation in Yemen has continued to deteriorate over recent days. Regrettably we now judge that our embassy staff and premises are at increased risk," said Minister for the Middle East Tobias Ellwood.

"We have therefore decided to withdraw diplomatic staff and temporarily suspend the operations of the British embassy in Sanaa. Our ambassador and diplomatic staff have left Yemen this morning and will return to the UK," he added.

Ellwood also urged Britons currently in Yemen to leave the country "immediately".

"We continue to believe that a stable, united, democratic and prosperous Yemen is the best future for the country. We will continue to work internationally to help Yemen achieve a legitimate, transparent political transition in which all Yemenis are represented," the minister said.

The US has also decided to shut down its embassy in Yemen because of possible terrorist attacks.

Yemen has been the scene of sometimes violent political unrest for months with the Shia Houthi rebel movement seizing government buildings and extending its control to seven provinces, leading to the resignation of the government.

--IANS/EFE

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