Abu Dhabi:
The United Arab Emirates has suspended operations at its embassy in Yemen and evacuated staff over security concerns after a Shiite militia seized power, the foreign ministry said today.
The move comes a day after Sunni-dominated regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia announced it had also evacuated all its staff from the embassy in Sanaa.
The Shiite Huthi militia, accused of receiving backing from Shiite-dominated Iran, dissolved Yemen's government and parliament on February 6 after seizing the presidential palace and key government buildings.
The UAE foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official WAM news agency that it "has suspended embassy operations in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and evacuated all staff.
"This decision comes in light of the increasingly deteriorating political and security situation" and the "unfortunate events with the Huthis undermining legitimate authority in the country."
France, Germany and Italy took similar action on yesterday, two days after Britain, the Netherlands and the United States pulled out.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said this week that Yemen was "collapsing before our eyes" and called for Western-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to be restored to power.
Foreign ministers of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council are to meet later today in the Saudi capital Riyadh for expected talks on the Yemen crisis.
Last week the GCC denounced the Huthi action as a coup.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
43 Get Lifetime Imprisonment In UAE Over "Terrorist" Links: Report Saudi Teacher Gets 20-Year Jail Term Over Critical Social Media Posts Indian CEO Explains Why Dubai Is The Best Place To Settle Down: ''No Crime, Best Infra'' Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Break 64-Year Royal Tradition In Surprise Move Biden Says Could Drop Election Bid If "Medical Condition" Emerged Russia Says It's Ready To Work With Any US Leader 3 People Die After Drowning In Lake In Telangana: Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.