British FM Calls Saudi Arabia for Ending Yemen War

Local Editor

Saudi Arabia must bring an end to the war in Yemen, British Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said Monday as he visited Riyadh to put pressure on the kingdom over the conflict and the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

During a day of intense shuttle diplomacy, flying from Saudi Arabia to the UAE and back again before returning to London, Hunt said he pushed the UK’s Arab allies to move towards a ceasefire in Yemen.

Hunt’s visit came as Turkey continued to pressure the Saudi Kingdom over Khashoggi’s death by sharing with Western countries a graphic audio tape of his final moments inside the Saudi consulate.

“We have been discussing Khashoggi but also the vital need to seize the moment in Yemen and stop famine and cholera intensifying,” Hunt said.

Hunt’s visit to the Gulf came as fighting continued in the Yemeni port city of al-Hudaydah.

Al-Hudaydah is the main lifeline for food and aid for northern Yemen and the UN has warned of an "absolutely catastrophic situation" if the port is damaged during the fighting.

Around 14 million people in Yemen - half the country’s population - are on the brink of famine, according to the UN. More than 100 children are estimated to be dying each day as a result of disease and malnutrition.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team