US official arrives in Yemen

US Assistant Undersecretary of State for the Middle East affairs Roland Newman arrived in Sanaa on Thursday for a visit to Yemen.

A western diplomat told the AFP today that this visit falls in the course of efforts made by Washington to become acquainted with the stances of the Arab countries towards the US-British strikes against Iraq during December 16-19 1998.

The diplomat, who asked not to be identified, said that Newman will brief Yemeni officials about Washington's regret and may tell them that the US will stop its aid to Yemen provided in the course of the land-mine dismantling operations.

Yemen has strongly opposed the US-British attacks against Iraq and called for convening an Arab summit to discuss this aggression.