Yemen criticizes American security warning to US citizens

A source in the Yemeni Foreign Ministry accused the USA of pressuring Yemen in order to participate in the Middle East and North Africa Conference, which is due to be held in Qatar this month.

Last week, the US issued a security warning calling on US citizens in Yemen to pay more attention to their security and to get away from particular areas of the country. The warning was considered by Yemeni sources as a kind of pressure on Yemen.

The US warning comes concurrently with an increase of the number of incidents in which foreigners are kidnapped by tribes and are then used to bargaining chips in negotiating with the Yemeni government.

The Yemeni source, who asked that his name be kept anonymous, said that Yemen was surprised by the US warning as it is concurrent with the US measures against Sudan. The source described this step as unfavorable and that it will not serve the US interests in Sanaa. He added that there are no security problems in Yemen and that the US citizens live peacefully in Yemen.

He stated that the kidnapping incidents occurring in Yemen could happen in other countries, but they seem bigger in Yemen because of the press exaggeration within the democratic and open environment prevailing in Yemen.