US govt upgrades travel warning for Yemen

The US State Department has issued an upgraded warning on travel to Yemen.

Travel Insurance News - 07/03/2011

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The USA’s State Department is warning its nationals to avoid travel to Yemen, in the Middle East. The upgraded warning also cautions any US citizens already in the country, which sits on Saudi Arabia’s southern border, to consider leaving.

The state department notice warns of an extremely high level of security threat because of terrorist activities, as well as civil unrest. The UK issued a similarly upgraded travel advice on Yemen.

Yemen has seen many anti-government protests in several cities over recent weeks. A number of deaths have reportedly resulted from clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

The anti-government protests in Yemen held in recent weeks have been aimed at getting Yemen’s president to resign. Ali Abdullah Saleh has ruled Yemen since 1978.

Demonstrators have a number of demands, including increased employment opportunities, less corruption and more balanced wealth distribution. President Saleh promises not to seek a further term in 2013 but vows to defend his current rule.

Over recent years, in addition to anti-government protests, Yemen has endured an on-going separatist movement in the country’s south, as well as occasional clashes with Shia tribes living in the north. On Sunday, suspected al-Qaeda insurgents attacked the military outside the capital Sanaa, reportedly killing four soldiers.

A government official said a group of unidentified men fired on troops passing in a truck close to Marib, which is some 170kms from Sanaa. Rebels say the army used rockets against an anti-government demonstration earlier this week in northern Yemen, leaving two dead.

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