US closes embassy in Yemen to public

The US embassy in Yemen says it will be closed to the public until further notice because of "ongoing security concerns".

epa03812077 Veh= such as stations and travel areas, after the US State Department announced plans to close dozens of US Embassies and Consulates in the Middle East and North Africa, including those in Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Tel Aviv. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

The United States says it has closed its embassy in Yemen to the public until further notice due to security concerns.

"Due to the recent resignation of the Yemeni president, prime minister, and cabinet, and the ongoing security concerns, the US embassy in Sanaa is unable to provide routine consular services and will have very limited ability to assist with emergency cases involving US citizens," the embassy said on its website on Monday.

"The US embassy will be closed to the public until further notice," said the statement issued only hours after a drone strike reportedly killed three Al-Qaeda suspects in an eastern desert area of Yemen.