Germany, Netherlands close embassies in Yemen

[News_Editor]

Germany, Netherlands close embassies in Yemen

2011-06-04 23:26:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

HANOI (BNO NEWS) -- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Saturday said his office has decided to close its embassy in the Yemeni capital of Sana'a due to the deteriorating security situation in the country. The Netherlands announced a similar decision.

Westerwelle made the announcement during a visit to the Taiwanese capital of Hanoi. "We have been monitoring the situation throughout Sana'a and Yemen for weeks with growing concern," he said. "The Federal government has repeatedly called on President Saleh to protect the civilian population in Yemen."

The security situation in Sana's dramatically deteriorated on Friday when rebels attacked the presidential palace, killing several soldiers and injuring Saleh, Prime Minister Ali Mohammed Mujawar, and other government officials. Clashes were also reported in other parts of Sana'a and Yemen as a whole.

"We call for an orderly political transition and call for a peaceful social dialogue and reform. President Saleh has not complied with these requirements," Westerwelle said. "The Federal government condemns any form of violence in the strongest term."

Westerwelle said the security situation forced the German government to close its embassy in Sana'a and withdraw all its staff members. "I urge all our fellow countrymen to leave the country immediately," he added.

In a statement on Saturday, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs also announced that it would close its embassy in Sana'a with immediate effect. "In connection with the deteriorating security situation in Yemen, and the capital Sana'a in particular, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has, in close discussion with European Union partners, decided to close the Dutch embassy in Sana'a with immediate effect," the statement said.

The Ministry said a total of 44 Dutch citizen are currently in Yemen. "They have been informed about this decision. In recent weeks they were already urgently advised several times to leave the country," the statement added.

Yemen has been thrown in chaos and violence since an uprising against the government began in mid-January. Most recent estimates put the death toll at more than 800, with thousands more believed to have been injured.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-04

[warfie]

The "Taiwanese capital of Hanoi"?

[Scott]

Let's hope they got the right embassies in the the right country closed.

[Steely Dan]

I guess it might have been difficult to fly there with Iran closing their airspace.

It's great to see the Arab spring in full bloom though, all the better to spend $40 billion of G8 taxpayers money on to help 'democracy' in the region.