Russia to pull diplomats out of Yemen

Sun Jun 5, 2011

Amid escalating violence in the chaotic Yemeni capital, Russia is set to evacuate 14 diplomats from Sana'a to Moscow.

"Considering the complex situation in the Republic of Yemen... we will send 14 diplomats by the next plane to Moscow," Reuters quoted a diplomatic source as saying on Saturday.

The source also said Russia was considering the evacuation of all its nationals from Yemen due to the growing turmoil in the volatile state.

About 1,000 people from the former Soviet Union are believed to be in Yemen.

The decision came in the wake of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's call on Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to accept a peace deal brokered by the [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council.

The Beleaguered Yemeni president has refused to sign the deal, which offered him to step down in return for immunity.

Saleh is currently in Saudi Arabia for medical treatment following a mortar attack on his presidential palace on Friday.

More clashes erupted between Yemeni government troops and opposition tribesmen in Sana'a on Saturday following the shelling of the presidential palace.

Many analysts say it is unlikely that Saleh will return, which means his son Ahmed will try to seize power following his father's three-decade-long rule.

Hundreds of thousands of people have turned out for regular demonstrations in Yemen's major cities since late January, calling for an end to corruption and unemployment and demanding the ouster of Saleh.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.com/detail/183252.html.