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DW, 12 Dec 2017

Russia has announced it is suspending its diplomatic presence in Yemen and relocating its diplomats to the Saudi capital Riyadh. The Foreign Ministry cited the deteriorating security situation as the reason for the move.

Russia removed all of its diplomatic personnel from Yemen and has temporarily shut its embassy there, the country's Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday.

Russia's ambassador to Yemen and other diplomats would continue to fulfill their duties from Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement carried by Russian state media.

Read more: War in Yemen: 'The world isn't paying enough attention'

The decision to temporarily close the embassy, located in the rebel-held capital Sanaa, was attributed to thedeteriorating security situation in the country.

"Considering the situation in Sanaa, a decision has been taken to temporarily suspend Russia's diplomatic presence in Yemen. All employees of the Russian embassy have left the country," Zakharova was quoted by news agencies as saying.