Britain to take UN report on Saudi violations in Yemen ‘extremely seriously’
The British government pledges to take “extremely seriously” a UN report which accuses Britain’s close ally, Saudi Arabia, of committing crimes against humanity in Yemen.
The foreign office minister said on Thursday that he had not yet received the report officially but he had seen some of its contents.
"I will take the report extremely seriously, this absolutely must be the case, and I commit to sit down with the Saudi Arabians at a very senior level ... and discuss the allegations," Tobias Ellwood said.
Ellwood said, however, that evidences in the report need to be examined closely, stressing that the report was compiled by a panel that had not visited Yemen but based it conclusion on testimonies and photographs.
On Wednesday, the UN report accused Saudi Arabia of systematic and widespread targeting of civilians in its relentless aerial attacks against the impoverished nation. The UN panel documented 120 sorties, involving airstrikes on refugee camps, medical facilities and schools among other civilian targets.
The panel also slammed Riyadh’s crippling blockade on Yemen and its use of starvation as a method of warfare. It urged the UN Security Council to consider setting up an inquiry "relating to violations of international humanitarian law".
The report mounts pressure on London which has already faced condemnations for providing training to the Saudi military and approving billions of pounds worth of military exports to the kingdom.
The issue was raised in parliament by opposition lawmakers calling on the government to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia while the allegations were investigated.
According to official data compiled by the Campaign Against Arms Trade, Britain granted licenses for military goods to Saudi Arabia worth 4.6 billion pounds in the three years to September 2015.
The government has rejected opposition calls to suspend arms sales claiming that arms exports to Saudi Arabia meet with the country's licensing criteria.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has said that the UN report contradicts the UK officials’ justification for selling weapons to the kingdom.
Israeli arms firm loses its ‘biggest contract’ as UK revokes contract
Russia launches 'ICBM' for first time against Ukraine: Kiev
UK government says Israel arms ban would 'undermine US confidence'
VIDEO | Paris march in support of Palestine women
VIDEO | ICC issues arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister, ousted regime war minister
120 Palestinians perish as Israeli war machine keeps ravaging Gaza
VIDEO | Struggles of Palestinian women amidst war, displacement
VIDEO | Hezbollah rains attack drones down on elite Israeli brigade
VIDEO | US biased mediation fails
Leader: All captains of criminal, Zionist, terrorist gang must be prosecuted
Iran further raises its oil prices for Chinese buyers: Report
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
