| ABC News | - |
The World Bank suspended its operations in Yemen
on Thursday, the latest in a stream of international organizations,
Western and Arab embassies to shut down offices in the capital, Sanaa,
as the Shiite rebels who seized much of the country's north ...
World Bank Leaves Yemen; Shiite Rebels Stage Border Drill
The World Bank suspended its operations in Yemen
on Thursday, the latest in a stream of international organizations,
Western and Arab embassies to shut down offices in the capital, Sanaa,
as the Shiite rebels who seized much of the country's north staged
military-type exercises along the border with Saudi Arabia in an apparent show of strength.
The power grab by rebels known as the Houthis has dragged Yemen deeper
into turmoil and threatened to split the impoverished Arabian Peninsula
country.
Neighboring Sunni kingdom of Saudi Arabia — which suspended its economic
lifeline to Yemen in response to the Houthi power grab — has accused
the Shiite rebels of carrying out a coup against Yemen's legitimate
authorities.
In a statement announcing it was suspending its operations in Yemen, the
World Bank cited security concerns and political developments. It said
the decision followed a thorough review that concluded the situation in
Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, had "deteriorated to the degree
that the Bank was unable to exercise effective management over its
projects."
The Sanaa office of the World Bank had already temporarily closed in
mid-February. Western embassies also shut down and evacuated staff from
Sanaa last month, after the Houthis stormed the presidential palace and
placed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his Cabinet ministers under
house arrest. Hadi later managed to flee to the southern port city of
Aden where he has since set up a base.
Russia, China, Iran and Oman have kept their embassies operating in Sanaa but Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have moved theirs to Aden. Qatar recently also said it would open its embassy in Aden.
The Houthis, who last year descended from their northern stronghold,
seized control of Sanaa in September, and last month declared that they
have taken over the country.
Thursday's rebel maneuvers took place in the city of Kitaf in the
province of Saada, the Houthi heartland, along the Saudi border. The
Houthis used artillery, rockets, and other weapons, according to several
military officials. A Houthi media official told The Associated Press
the exercise was not meant to "pose a threat to anyone."
Also Thursday, Shiite rebels fired tear gas and started shooting in the
air to disperse a demonstration against them in the central city of
Bayda, where thousands had taken to the streets to denounce the rebel
power grab. One person was killed and seven were wounded in the
shooting, said a medical official.
The military officials, the Houthi media representative and the Bayda
medical official all spoke on condition of anonymity because they were
not authorized to speak to reporters.
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