Former Yemeni ambassador in Damascus, asks political asylum in London
Yemen-UK, Politics, 4/30/2005

Former Yemeni ambassador in Damascus Abdullah al-Hosni said on Friday that he had fled to Britain asking political asylum after he was exposed to an assassination attempt by the Yemeni authorities.

Al-Hosni arrived with his family in London On Thursday and said he is about to complete measures of political asylum seeking in Britain.

Al-Hosni said "I have come here (Britain) after an assassination attempt against me in Damascus," adding that "the attempt was planned for by the Yemeni authorities." The Yemeni diplomat who occupied the post of his country's ambassador in Damascus for four years said the Yemeni authorities wanted to kill him because he belongs to an opposition movement in southern Yemen.

A government source in Sanaa said that al-Hosni mission as an ambassador to Damascus ended two months ago. The source added that "al-Hosni asked to extend his mission but he was notified that the diplomatic law does not permit that and he has to return back to his country." He then asked to travel to London for medical treatment and when he arrived there "he refused to return back" to Sanaa.

Al-Honi said that one of his friends warned him in the beginning of the year to that the Yemeni authorities seek to kill him and that he notified the Syrian government about that and his personal security was reinforced. He continued that despite that on March 26 a bomb was place in front of his house in Damascus. He said "After that I received a warning from my fried who said that I have to leave otherwise I will be killed next time." However, the Yemeni ambassador in London said he does not know about this matter, while the British foreign office and the ministry of the interior refused to comment on this issue.

Previous Stories:
  Britain closes its embassy in Yemen because of Saadah conditions   (4/9/2005)
  Saleh discussed with Blair the file of terrorism, Red Sea security   (8/27/2004)
  Yemen releases two British accused of terrorism   (12/25/2003)

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