Britain summons all embassy staff from Yemen; shutters mission
Iran Press TV
Tue Aug 6, 2013 2:47PM GMT
The UK government has temporarily withdrawn all staff from its embassy in Yemen in addition to shuttering the mission altogether due to what the authorities claimed as "increased security concerns".
The Foreign Office (FCO) followed suit after the U.S. State Department advised its citizens to leave the Arab country immediately and also withdrew all non-essential U.S. government staff.
Operations at both embassies as well as some other European countries' missions in the Middle East and North Africa have been ceased following a report by intelligence sources alleging that they had intercepted messages from al-Qaeda chief in Yemen ordering attacks on foreigners.
The FCO determined no specific date for the mission to be reopened though it will not be before the end of the Eid ul-Fitr celebrations, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
'Due to increased security concerns, all staff in our Yemen Embassy have been temporarily withdrawn, and the embassy will remain closed until staff are able to return,' the FCO said in a statement.
UK authorities have not yet specified the nature of the threat which led to the decision to close the embassy. The Foreign Office would not confirm the reports.
MOL/HE
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