Russia is concerned over the rise of terrorist activity in Yemen and supports efforts by the Yemeni authorities to tackle extremism in the country, the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
"Reports on terrorist occurrences and clashes, resulting in victims among citizens, have caused serious concerns. Moscow confirms its strong support of obstinate efforts by the Yemeni government aimed at fighting extremism, recovering social and economic situation and assuring effective control over the whole country's territory," the ministry's press service quoted Andrei Nesterenko as saying.
Nesterenko called for the international community to support Yemeni authorities' efforts to combat extremism, but warned against foreign interference in the country's internal affairs.
The U.S. embassy in Yemen was temporarily closed on Sunday due to the threat of an al-Qaeda attack. The U.S. lead was also followed by the embassies of France, the U.K. and Japan.
The U.S. embassy reopened on Tuesday on reports of a successful raid by Yemeni forces on Monday. The other western embassies also resumed their work, but public services in the embassies of the U.K. and Japan still remain closed.
The U.S. embassy closed over security concerns just days after a failed attack on a U.S. airliner claimed by the al-Qaeda group in Yemen.
A 23-year-old Nigerian national, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a passenger on board an A330 passenger jet bound from Amsterdam to Detroit on December 25, tried to blow up the plane that was carrying some 300 people. He was detained and charged with attempted terrorist attack.
It turned out that Abdulmutallab had undergone training at an al-Qaeda camp in Yemen.
Media reports said on Wednesday the country's security forces arrested three suspected al-Qaeda militants, who were wounded in Monday's raid. Mohammed al-Hanq, a key local al-Qaeda leader, who is believed to be behind the security threats that caused the closure of the western embassies, is reportedly among the arrested.
MOSCOW, January 6 (RIA Novosti)
