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'TEHRAN NOT IN CHARGE'

King Salman meets Fabius and his delegation. Image courtesy: SPA.

Saudi dismisses Iran calls for Yemen ceasefire

RIYADH, April 12, 2015

Saudi Arabia dismissed Iranian calls for an end to its air strikes on neighbouring Yemen on Sunday, saying Tehran should not interfere in the conflict.

Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies began air strikes against Iranian-allied Houthi militia fighters in Yemen more than two weeks ago, to try and prevent them making further advances.

"How can Iran call for us to stop the fighting in Yemen ... We came to Yemen to help the legitimate authority, and Iran is not in charge of Yemen," Saudi Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal said in the Saudi capital Riyadh at a press conference with French counterpart Laurent Fabius.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud also received Fabius and his accompanying delegation at the Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed the latest developments in the region and aspects of cooperation between the two friendly countries.

Meanwhile, Saudi-led air strikes today targeted a military camp in the central Yemeni city of Taiz. The air raids were aimed at a site held by soldiers loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh who have joined up with Houthi rebels against local militias in the south, the source said.

In a sign of the military's weakening control, suspected Al Qaeda militants killed an army colonel in the central Shabwa province on Sunday, a local official said.

Separately, an Al Qaeda leader was killed in an apparent US drone strike on a group of militants west of the port city of Mukalla on the Arabian Sea, residents told Reuters.

It was the first reported drone strike against the powerful Yemeni branch of the global militant group since the US evacuated about 100 special forces troops advising Yemeni forces last month.

According to the United Nations, the conflict, in which the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa in the north in September, has killed 600 people, wounded 2,200 and displaced 100,000 others. - Reuters




Tags: Saudi Arabia | yemen | Houthis |

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