UN Security Council fails to agree on Yemen statement

NEW YORK // The UN Security Council discussed Yemen's political crisis for the first time late on Tuesday as protesters in Yemen clashed with security forces their bid to oust President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The 15-nation body failed to agree on a statement about the violence in Yemen, but western envoys said the meeting showed support for the Gulf Co-operation Council GCC, which is trying to broker a deal between Mr Saleh and his opponents.

Susan Rice, the United States envoy to the UN, said Yemen's political turmoil was a threat "to the wider region and to international peace and security" and called for "restraint".

"Many delegations, including our own, stressed the importance of an end to violence and a political process that resolves swiftly in a credible transition," Ms Rice told reporters. "We also, as did many others, express support for the facilitation effort of the GCC."

The Security Council has been reluctant to address the political unrest in the Arab world, remaining largely silent on the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia and only responding in Libya when faced with an imminent massacre.

The UN's most powerful body is charged with tackling threats to international peace and security and typically disregards internal conflicts, although Yemen is linked to global issues such as Somali piracy and as a base for al Qa'eda.

Western diplomats said UN involvement may deter Yemeni security forces from escalating attacks on protesters. A council statement, drafted by Germany and Lebanon, was rejected by Russia and China but will be discussed again in coming days, they added.

Ambassadors were briefed by Gamal bin Omer, the UN envoy to Yemen, who held talks with Mr Saleh last week. Germany's UN envoy, Peter Wittig, urged the Yemeni leader to accept GCC proposals and "strive for a peaceful transition".

Yemeni security forces used water cannons tear gas and weapons after protesters took to the streets of the capital, Sana'a, as well as Taiz, Aden, Ibb and al-Hudaydah yesterday. Reports indicate that three protesters were shot and killed.

More than 125 people have died in two months of protests calling for the removal of Mr Saleh, inspired by a wave of popular uprisings across the Middle East that have toppled the leaders of Egypt and Syria and led to civil war in Libya.