(AA) – The embassy of United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Yemeni capital Sanaa on Saturday suspended operations and evacuated its diplomatic staff citing turmoil in the country.
The UAE is the ninth country to suspend its diplomatic mission in Sanaa since the Shiite Houthi group took over power in the Arab country.
The decision to suspend operations of the UAE embassy in Sanaa comes “in light of the steady deterioration of political and security situations in Yemen after the Houthis undermined the country’s legitimate authority,” the UAE’s official news agency said.
Eight other countries had earlier suspended the operations of their diplomatic missions in Sanaa, including Saudi Arabia, the United States, France, Britain and Germany.
Japan’s embassy in Yemen has also closed to public and EU envoy Bettina Muscheidt left the country.
Earlier this month, Yemen’s powerful Shiite Houthi group issued a “constitutional declaration” dissolving parliament and establishing a 551-member “transitional council” to lead the country.
The declaration, however, was rejected by most of Yemen’s political forces – along with some neighboring countries – which described it as a “coup” against “constitutional legitimacy.”
Late last September, the Houthis seized control of Sanaa and have since sought to expand their influence to other provinces farther afield.
