Secretary-General, Gravely Concerned about Escalating Yemen Violence,

 

Strongly Condemns Excessive Use of Force against Protestors

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the escalation of violence in Yemen.  He calls on all sides to exercise utmost restraint and desist from provocative actions.  He strongly condemns the excessive use of force by Government security forces against unarmed protestors in the capital, Sana’a, resulting in scores of people killed and many more injured.

The Secretary-General calls on the authorities to protect civilians and uphold their obligations under applicable international law.

The Secretary-General urges all political players to engage closely with United Nations Special Adviser Jamal Benomar, who is currently in Sana’a to continue his good offices, working closely with the Gulf Cooperation Council and other international partners with a view to facilitating a peaceful solution to the ongoing political impasse.

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For information media • not an official record