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.
UK suspends legal assessments of Israeli violations in Gaza
70,000 pro-Palestine people in UK urge London to end arms exports to Israel
Former minister says UK should consider sending troops to Ukraine
It could take 14 years to remove debris left by Israel war on Gaza: UN
Iran, China discuss military cooperation
Sanders to Netanyahu: 'Don’t insult American people’s intelligence'
Tehran economic conference: Raeisi hails Iran-Africa expansion of ties
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Severe heat wave hits India as phase 2 of polling begins
What to expect after President Raeisi's visit to Pakistan
China describes Iran as ‘strategic partner' in West Asia
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
