Russian FM worried by political stalemate in Yemen

MOSCOW, September 8 (Itar-Tass) -- Moscow is worried by the fact that neither the authorities nor the opposition in Yemen are prepared to make concessions.
Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told Itar-Tass that situation in Yemen "remains a matter of concern". "Elements of armed confrontation between law enforcement agencies and militiamen from local tribes remain. Rebels from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and other extremist
organisations are raiding cities. They are particularly active in the
south of the republic. Public protest continue," he said.
"It seems that neither warring party is prepared to make serious
concessions. Some of their representatives do not rule out the use of
force in order to achieve their goals, which will create conditions for a new spiral of civil confrontation," the diplomat said.
He noted "the importance of further intensification of collective
external efforts to help Yemenis find ways to settle the drawn-out
political conflict. It is necessary to make full use of existing
arrangements, including relevant provisions of the initiative of the
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the (Persian) Gulf (CCASG)".