Foreign Office Minister calls on Government of Yemen to respect the right to peaceful protest
"All Yemenis have a right to express their views in a peaceful and open manner," said Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt.
Commenting on the recent protests in Yemen, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Alistair Burt today said:
“I have been watching closely the situation in Yemen. All Yemenis have a right to express their views in a peaceful and open manner and I am extremely concerned by reports of increasing violence and the excessive use of force by security forces. I call on the Government of Yemen to respect the people’s right to peaceful protest and listen to their legitimate grievances. The Yemeni authorities should respond positively to these concerns.
The Yemeni Government and the political opposition have been discussing how to create a more open and inclusive political system in Yemen. The UK calls on all parties to come together quickly to find a negotiated and democratic solution to these issues in order to provide a solid basis for long term stability and prosperity in Yemen.”