PA embassy closes. (Illustration)
Photo: AP
Palestinian Embassy in Yemen closes
Fatah-Hamas conflict reaches Yemen as Palestinian Authority decides to protest freedom given to Hamas' office in country by withdrawing diplomatic presence
The Palestinian embassy in Yemen said on Saturday it was closing its mission in Sanaa in protest at what it called "dual Palestinian representation," an apparent reference to an office of Hamas.
"We are closing the embassy in protest at the dual Palestinian representation in Yemen," embassy spokesman Fayez Jawad told AFP, without elaborating. The move appeared to be aimed at putting pressure on the Yemeni authorities to reduce the freedom enjoyed by a representative office of Hamas.
Jawad said that the move was also to protest against the "arrest of 10 Palestinians in the southern port city of Aden, and an attempt by some influential Yemenis to confiscate the premises of the Palestinian consulate in the city."
A source in Aden's chamber of commerce said that a court verdict had been issued stating that the premises had been sold to a Yemeni man some 10 years ago by the Palestinian mission. It was not clear when or why the 10 Palestinians reported to have been detained were arrested.
