UAE closes embassy in Yemen

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday announced the closure of its embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, citing an "increasing deterioration of the political and security situation," according to its foreign ministry.

It has become the latest country to close its mission in Yemen, after Germany, Italy, France, Britain, the Netherlands, the United States and Saudi Arabia made similar announcements in the past few days.

The moves come as the Shiite Houthi militia continues to tighten its grip on Yemen after taking formal control of the country two weeks ago, dissolving the government and parliament.

The Houthis, who call their takeover a "revolution" aimed at toppling a corrupt regime and avoiding economic ruin, are now continuing their armed push southward.

Heavy fighting in south

Opponents of the group say it is backed both by Shiite-dominated Iran and by Yemen's former strongman, President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in Arab Spring protests in 2011.

Local officials in the southern mountainous province of al-Bayda told Reuters news agency on Saturday that heavy fighting in the region had killed 16 Houthi rebels and 10 Sunni tribesmen and militants.

The Houthi advance has caused some locals to join forces with militants from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) - one of the deadliest arms of the global terrorist network.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned this week that the situation in Yemen was "collapsing before our eyes," calling for Western-backed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to be restored to power.

tj/kms (Reuters, AFP)