UN warns of collapse of Yemen, reemergence of al-Qaeda

The United Nations has warned of the collapse of Yemen following a rise in militant attacks in the country, suggesting that the country is on the verge of civil war. According to News 24, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his special envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, briefed the Security Council on Thursday.

Ban told the 15-nation council "Yemen is collapsing before our eyes. We cannot stand by and watch." He called for urgent action to ensure that Yemen's political process was back on track.

Meanwhile, Benomar said that while there was good progress happening on the negotiation front, talks on a political settlement were still delicate. He said that Yemen was at a crossroad and that the country would either "descend into civil war and disintegration" or "would find a way to put the transition back on track".

Benomar added that the current state of affairs in Yemen was creating conditions which are conducive to a reemergence of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.