British nationals in Yemen have been told they must flee the escalating violence on commercial flights now or risk being stranded.
Foreign Secretary William Hague said if people did not make the decision to leave the UK will not be able to evacuate them.
In the starkest warning he has issued so far to UK nationals still in the Gulf state – believed to number a few hundred – he said they “should not plan for nor expect” the British Government to be able to get them to safety.
On Friday Yemen’s president was injured in clashes between the regime and oppositions fighters where rockets hit the presidential palace in the capital Sanaa.
In an audio message aired on state TV, Ali Abdullah Saleh pointed the finger of blame at the Hashed tribe which has been battling Saleh loyalists.
“I salute our armed forces and the security forces for standing up firmly to confront this challenge by an outlaw gang that has nothing to do with the so-called youth revolution,” he said.
He said seven guards were killed and eight senior officials were also injured.
Following the attack, deputy information minister Abdu al Janadi said the 69-year-old president had suffered minor injuries but was “in good health”.
The White House said the violence was “senseless” and called on all sides to cease hostilities and pursue a peaceful process of transferring power.
Mr Hague once again said people must not hesitate about quitting Yemen and urged people with friends and relatives in the country to tell them to leave immediately.
“Given that we cannot expect forewarning of any airport closures, British nationals should not wait to leave,” he said.
“The British Government has been advising British nationals to leave Yemen since March 12 and we will not be in a position to evacuate those who do not leave on commercial airlines while these are still flying.
“I ask those in the UK with friends and relatives in Yemen to pass this message on and tell them to leave now. You should not plan for nor expect the British Government to be in a position to assist you to reach safety.”
Street fighting in Sanaa has killed at least 155 people in the past 10 days, officials have said.
Mr Saleh has repeatedly reneged on a deal brokered by the Gulf Arab states to secure a peaceful end to his nearly 33 years in power.
Source : SKY NEWS
