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May 29, 2012
Saudi Arabia urged its citizens to
avoid travel to Yemen due to insecurity and instability, the Saudi official
news agency reported on Tuesday.
"Saudi citizens are urged to
stop travel to the republic of Yemen at the moment and should wait until the
situation gets better there," the agency reported, quoting a statement by
an official at the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
The warning comes as the deputy
Saudi consul, Al-Khalidi, is still abducted by Al-Qaida. Al-Khalidi was
kidnapped in Aden and taken to Shabwa in March. Recently, the Sharia
Supporters, the offshoot of AQAP, posted a videotape in which the diplomat asked
the Saudi king for help. The Saudi kingdom has shut down its embassy in the
capital Sanaa in protest against the continuous kidnapping of its diplomat.
Saudi Arabia announced this month
$3.25 billion in aid to help Yemen overcome security, economic and political
challenges. Last year, the GCC countries sponsored a West-backed power-transfer
deal, which saw president Saleh relinquish power after 33 years in office.
The Yemeni army has stepped up the
offensive against Al-Qaida militants in southern and southeastern regions,
mainly Abyan, to clear militants from the areas seized last year.
Some areas have been recaptured
and the forces are now on the edges of the capital Zinjibar and Jaar, the most
important strongholds of the militants.
Hundreds of militants have been
killed including senior leaders in the past two months.
The US and tribal fighters are
directly supporting the national forces to fight Al-Qaida.
