ChemistryEquipment: US pulls diplomats out of Yemen

Thursday, May 26, 2011

US pulls diplomats out of Yemen

Yemeni soldiers at checkpoint in Sanaa - 25 May 2011

Fighting has raged in Sanaa for several days as tribal forces fight government troops

The US has ordered all its non-essential diplomats and family members of embassy staff to leave Yemen as fighting there escalates.

At least 44 people have been killed since Monday in clashes between tribal fighters and government troops.

President Ali Abdullah Saleh has again said he will not step down and leave Yemen, despite mounting protests.

He has so far refused to sign a transition deal that would see him resign in favour of a unity government.

The US State Department has also warned Americans against travelling to Yemen.

"The security threat level in Yemen is extremely high due to terrorist activities and civil unrest. There is ongoing civil unrest throughout the country and large-scale protests in major cities," the State Department said.

"The Department of State has ordered all eligible family members of US government employees as well as certain non-emergency personnel to depart Yemen," the travel warning said.

Yemen's Ahmar familySheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar is the overall leader of the Hashid tribal confederation, one of the two main tribal groupings in YemenHis father Abdullah bin Hussein al-Ahmar - who died in 2007 - founded the Islamist Islah opposition partySheikh Sadeq's brother Hamid al-Ahmar is a prominent businessman and leading member of Islah. He has repeatedly called for Mr Saleh's resignationAnother brother, Sheikh Hussein bin Abdullah al-Ahmar, resigned from President Saleh's Governing People's Council on 28 February over the shootings of protestersLike President Saleh, the Ahmars are from the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam, whereas most Yemenis are Sunni Shaf'istsIn pictures: Boiling point

"US citizens currently in Yemen should depart while commercial transportation is available," it said.

Fighters from a powerful tribal group, the Hashid, have reportedly taken control of several public buildings in the capital Sanaa after several days of fighting government troops.

Sanaa's airport is reportedly shut after tribal fighters opposed to President Saleh clashed with government forces.

Witnesses say hundreds of people are fleeing the violence in the capital.

The clashes began on Monday after forces loyal to President Saleh moved against the compound of Hashid leader Sheikh Sadeq al-Ahmar.

Mr Saleh refuses to stand down, despite growing international pressure.

He has warned that Yemen could descend into civil war.

On Wednesday, US President Barack Obama said Mr Saleh should "move immediately on his commitment to transfer power".

The BBC's Wendy Urquhart looks at the cause of the recent clashes

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "deeply troubled" by the violence and called on all sides to find a peaceful solution.

But Mr Saleh remained defiant in a statement read by his spokesman on Wednesday.

"I will not leave power and I will not leave Yemen," the spokesman, Ahmed al-Soufi, quoted the president as saying.

The president said he was still prepared to sign a transition deal "within a national dialogue and a clear mechanism".

The deal Mr Saleh has so far refused to sign, which was presented by the Gulf Co-operation Council, calls for him to step down within a month after 33 years in office and hand over power to a unity government.

It would also give the president immunity from prosecution.

Mr Saleh has previously said he would only sign in the presence of opposition leaders.

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