Led by Egypt, Arab governments express support for Yemen

Sabri Mujahid
For Al-Shorfa.com
2009-10-10

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. (Reuters)

SANAA — Led by Egypt, Arab governments expressed support for Yemen’s central government in Sanaa as violence in the northern and southern regions of the country continued.

On Oct. 4, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit visited Yemen to express support for President Ali Abdullah Saleh and his government, which is engulfed in hostility. Aboul Gheit stated, “Cairo supports the Yemeni government and people in confronting the insurgency and it rejects foreign interference.”

Violence has worsened in the northern half of the country, especially in the province of Saada, where Yemeni forces have been embroiled in confrontations with Hawthi rebels for more than a month. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, have died in the fighting. Still worse, tens of thousands of civilians have been driven from their homes. The Yemeni government has accused Iraq and Iran of funding the Shiite Hawthi rebels, who represent a minority in Sunni-majority Yemen.

While the violence in the north has severely shaken Yemen’s stability, recent clashes in the south could lead the country into complete chaos. Clashes broke out with security forces in the southern city of Al-Dalaa after residents gathered in the streets to protest the arrest of several prominent members of the secessionist movement.

In his comments to reporters, Aboul Gheit also stressed that Egypt “completely supports its brother, Yemen, with all its power and capabilities.” Arab governments fear that the Middle East is facing the prospect of deteriorating regional security as Iran continues with its uranium enrichment programme and Hawthi rebels and Al-Qaeda insurgents continue to undermine Yemen’s stability.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa is also expected to visit Sanaa to convey Arab unity in support of Yemen. Meanwhile, Saudi Deputy Interior Minister Ahmad Bin Abdulaziz told reporters in Riyadh that the kingdom stands beside President Saleh and his government, but denied that the Saudi Air Force participated in a Yemeni air strike against rebels in the north.

Sources:

Bookmarking

Please comment on this article so that we can improve the experience of viewing this website.