New York, September 27: The United States and key Arab states expressed concern Friday for the unrest in northern Yemen and offered “full support” to President Ali Abdullah Saleh as his army fights Shiite rebels.
The statement followed talks in New York involving Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan.
“The ministers … noted their concern for the situation in Yemen,” said the statement that came on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly here.
Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands of civilians have fled their homes since August 11 when the Yemeni government began its “Scorched Earth” offensive against the Zaidi rebels, who are Shiite Muslims.
The government accuses the rebels of being backed by Iran, a non-Arab but Shiite Muslim country. The rebels deny the charge and allege Sanaa has brought in Saudi warplanes to support the army.
“The ministers expressed full support for the government of Ali Abdullah Saleh; for the unity, security, and stability of Yemen; and for efforts for a peaceful dialogue,” the US-Arab statement said.
“The ministers underscored the importance of ensuring the security of civilians and relief workers, and the provision for the safe passage of emergency relief supplies to civilians affected by the conflict,” it added.
The Yemeni government accuses the rebels of hindering the work of aid agencies by blocking essential roads and taking civilians as human shields.
The United Nations has warned that food supplies are running out at its camps for displaced people. It estimates 55,000 people have fled their homes since the latest fighting erupted nearly six weeks ago.
“The ministers reiterated their support for the Yemeni government’s economic and governance reform initiatives, and their willingness to continue to assist Yemen in improving the lives of its people,” the statement said.
Apart from Iraq, which has been led by Shiite Muslims since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, the other eight Arab states represented at the meeting here are led by Sunni Muslims.
—Agencies