US orders citizens to leave Yemen due to "extremely high" security threat

The US state department has ordered all citizens and non-emergency government staff to leave Yemen immediately due to security fears. A statement released on Tuesday said: "The Department urges U.S citizens to defer travel to Yemen and those U.S citizens currently living in Yemen to depart immediately". It adds: "Terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, continue to be active throughout Yemen. The U.S government remains highly concerned about possible attacks on U.S citizens and U.S facilities, businesses and perceived U.S. and Western Interests".  It says the security threat in Yemen is "extremely high". The move follows the closure of 19 U.S embassies around the globe and and the issuing of a travel warning for citizens due to security fears.