[08/05/2018 02:03]

ADEN-SABA
Yemen's political parties and groups have condemned the Emirati deployment of troops in Yemen's Indian Ocean archipelago of Socotra.

The People's General Congress, the Yemen Congregation for Reform, the Peaceful Southern Movement, Yemeni al-Rashad Union, the Justice and Building party, al-Nahdhaa for Peaceful Change, the Union of Popular Forces and Peace and Development parties issued a joint statement in this regard on Tuesday. The UAE's troop deployment, takeover of the airport and seaport and expulsion of the ports' employees took place last Thursday as Prime Minister Ahmed bin-Daghr was in a tour in the archipelago inspecting the citizens and laying the foundation stone for development projects.

The parties called the "unilateral" UAE move as "contrary to the goals of the Arab Coalition" which, led by Saudi Arabia, aims to reinstate Yemen's internationally recognized government back to power and end the Iran-backed Houthi rebellion.

"These Emirati steps have led to the militarization of the island, disturbed public peace and triggered massive protests amongst the population," said the statement.

The statement said the moves "appear like an attempt to plunge the island into events whose calculations have northing to do with countering the rebellion and restoring the Yemeni state– (these moves) rather meddle with the national sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen."

The parties appreciated the stance of the political leadership represented by President Abd-Rabbu MansourHaditoward these moves. They called the leadership to intensify their calls with the brotherly leaders of Saudi Arabia, the leading country of the Arab Coalition, to press the UAE to withdraw its forces from Socotra immediately and unconditionally and to defuse the tensions fueled by the UAE in the government-held territories.

The political parties expressed their thanks for the brotherly members of the Arab Coalition mainly the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their historical stance by the side of the Yemeni people against the Iranian intervention.

They called for Saudi Arabia's interference to stop the Emirati practices "which don't serve the goals of the Arab Coalition."

The parties said they take pride in the Socotri population's demonstration of support for the political leadership represented by Hadi and bin-Daghr despite the difficult circumstances.

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