ANKARA
Turkey expressed its deep concern Saturday over recent developments in Yemen where the Houthi militant group seized power in the volatile country and dissolved the parliament.
"We are deeply concerned with the seizure of government in Yemen by Houthi movement through the unilaterally formed ‘revolutionary council’,” a foreign ministry statement said.
Yemen's Shia Houthi militants announced Friday that they were establishing a transitional council of their own to replace the parliament for a two-year period. The move came at a time when UN-brokered negotiations were being carried out in the country.
Earlier Friday, Turkey called on its citizens in Yemen to leave the turmoil-hit country.
Fractious Yemen has remained in the throes of turmoil since autocratic President Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in 2012 following a months-long popular uprising against his 33-year rule.
The Houthis, emerging as a formidable political and military force in Yemen, took control of Sanaa last September and forced President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to step down.
Foreign ministry urged rival parties to go on with the talks that seek an interim government to run the country.
