Qatar Temporarily Closes Yemen Embassy

Qatar has decided to close its embassy in Sanaa for the time being over the embattled Yemeni president's rejection of a Gulf transition plan, the official QNA news agency reported on Friday.

"The state of Qatar is following with concern developments in the situation in Yemen... and has decided, due to the rejection of initiatives and appeals for a political solution, to temporarily close its embassy in Sanaa and recall its diplomatic personnel," QNA quoted an official spokesman as saying.

Qatar on May 13 announced its withdrawal from Gulf Cooperation Council mediation in Yemen after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign a GCC plan to end a months-long standoff between him and protesters calling for him to go.

Since January, demonstrators have been calling for Saleh, who has been in power since 1978, to quit.

Saleh accused Qatar of "plotting" against Yemen after it revealed the first version of the GCC plan for his departure.

In the latest version of the plan, Saleh would quit within 30 days of inking the accord, in exchange for immunity from prosecution for himself and his close associates.