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| [PHOTO: Al Jazeera English/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0] |
Washington: United States has decided to suspend its Yemen embassy operations citing “uncertain security situation” in the region.
As per reports, the embassy staffers have been temporarily relocated out of Sana’a, the capital city.
Recent unilateral actions disrupted the political transition process in Yemen, creating the risk that renewed violence would threaten Yemenis and the diplomatic community in Sana’a.
“The United States remains firmly committed to supporting all Yemenis who continue to work toward a peaceful, prosperous, and unified Yemen. We will explore options for a return to Sana’a when the situation on the ground improves,” the US State Department said in a media release.
“Our Ambassador and Embassy staff will continue to engage Yemenis and the international community to support Yemen’s political transition process, consistent with the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative, the outcomes of the National Dialogue Conference, UN Security Council resolutions and Yemeni law. We will also continue to protect the American people, and we will not hesitate to act in Yemen to do so,” the release said.
“Having worked bravely and tirelessly to bring about a political transition in Yemen, the Yemeni people have reason to expect to see this process resume with meaningful public timelines for finishing a new Yemeni constitution, holding a referendum on this constitution, and launching national elections,” the US stressed.
The US has reiterated the UNSC call for immediate release of President Hadi, Prime Minister Bahah, and members of the Yemeni cabinet.
“An inclusive political process cannot resume with members of the country’s leadership under house arrest,” the release concluded.