Italy, Germany temporarily close their Yemen embassies

MILAN - Italy and Germany have announced the temporary closure of their embassies in Yemen due to recent violence in the country where al-Qaida is active, following similar moves by France, Britain and the United States.

The Italian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday that the ambassador and his staff were returning to Italy, and expressed hopes that mediation by U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar would create conditions permitting the embassy to reopen.

In Berlin, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Sawsan Chebli said its staff left the country Friday.

In January, rebels known as Houthis put US-backed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his Cabinet ministers under house arrest, leading to their resignations. Subsequently, the Houthis dissolved parliament and declared they were taking over the government.