Bulgaria 'gravely concerned' about deteriorating state of Yemen - Foreign Ministry

Mar 22 2011

By The Sofia Echo staff

Bulgaria is "gravely concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation in Yemen" a Foreign Ministry statement said on March 22, in the wake of anti-government demonstrations over the weekend and the massacre of dozen civilians.

"We demand an immediate cessation of hostilities aimed at the civilian population" the statement read.

Yemen's embattled president Ali Abdullah Saleh has sacked his entire cabinet, according to international media, following the bloodshed over the weekend.

The drastic measures came amid escalating protests demanding his resignation. The announcement by Saleh came after tens of thousands of mourners flooded the streets of the Yemeni capital on March 20 in a mass funeral procession after 52 people were shot dead on March 18 by troops loyal to the government.

The massacre and subsequent sacking of the entire cabinet follows a month-long popular uprising calling for political reform and Saleh's resignation.

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said that the people of Yemen have "lost all faith in their government", that "Saleh has lost his legitimacy on all levels" and that further measures should be implemented through dialogue and not violence.

"The faith of Yemen is down to a national consensus, achieved through a democratic debate. It is imperative that Yemen maintains united and intact, for the sake of the peace in the Arabian Peninsular" the statement said.