Qatar withdraws diplomats from Sanaa
Qatar withdraws diplomats from Sanaa
Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have withdrawn their diplomatic staff from Yemeni due to the deteriorating political and security situation. Other Gulf countries are likely to follow suit.
2 min read
Abdullatif al-Zayani, GCC secretary-general, attends a GCC meeting to discuss the situation in Yemen [AFP]
Qatar announced today it was suspending it embassy's activities in Sanaa and evacuating all diplomatic personnel.
But Doha in fact withdrew its diplomatic mission several months ago without issuing an official declaration, Qatari sources have revealed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The announcement came soon after the UAE and Saudi Arabia announced they were withdrawing their diplomatic staff from Sanaa.
The UAE ministry of foreign affairs said it was pulling out staff due to the deteriorating political and security situation, and accused the Houthi movement of undermining legitimate authority in the country.
On Friday 13 February, Saudi Arabia's ministry of foreign affairs also announced that the country had had suspended its embassy's activities in Yemen.
It now seems likely Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain will withdraw their diplomatic missions after a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting of foreign ministers being held today in Riyadh.
The GCC special meeting will address the current crises in Yemen. It is expected to establish a series of measures to deal with Houthi control over the Yemeni government and to tackle what the council considers "a coup against legitimacy".
Measures may include imposing economic sanctions against the Houthi government and halting all GCC aid to Yemen. GCC members may also call on the UN Security Council to intervene and issue a resolution declaring support for "constitutional legitimacy" in Yemen as represented by the government of former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi who resigned on 22 January 2015.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
But Doha in fact withdrew its diplomatic mission several months ago without issuing an official declaration, Qatari sources have revealed to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The announcement came soon after the UAE and Saudi Arabia announced they were withdrawing their diplomatic staff from Sanaa.
The UAE ministry of foreign affairs said it was pulling out staff due to the deteriorating political and security situation, and accused the Houthi movement of undermining legitimate authority in the country.
 |
Measures may include imposing economic sanctions against the Houthi government and halting all GCC aid to Yemen. |
On Friday 13 February, Saudi Arabia's ministry of foreign affairs also announced that the country had had suspended its embassy's activities in Yemen.
It now seems likely Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain will withdraw their diplomatic missions after a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting of foreign ministers being held today in Riyadh.
The GCC special meeting will address the current crises in Yemen. It is expected to establish a series of measures to deal with Houthi control over the Yemeni government and to tackle what the council considers "a coup against legitimacy".
Measures may include imposing economic sanctions against the Houthi government and halting all GCC aid to Yemen. GCC members may also call on the UN Security Council to intervene and issue a resolution declaring support for "constitutional legitimacy" in Yemen as represented by the government of former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi who resigned on 22 January 2015.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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