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| Arabia |
| Royal Marines on standby to evacuate Britons in Yemen |
| 2011-06-12 |
| Eighty Royal Marines are on standby off the coast of Yemen to assist with the possible evacuation of British civilians, the BBC has learned. The marines are thought to be aboard a naval support ship, RFA Argus, near Yemen, according to naval sources. The Ministry of Defence said British military assets were in the region but would not comment on their exact task. Several hundred Britons are thought to be in Yemen, affected by violence and political instability for weeks. According to naval sources, marines are in the area carrying out training exercises and can be deployed to Yemen within 48 hours. The Ministry of Defence has said only that, as part of routine deployment, British military assets are in the region. Downing Street has declined to say if the Marines were preparing for an evacuation. Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said: "That is a routine military deployment to the region. I don't think we would want to comment further on their operations. "Since March this year we have been advising British nationals who remain in Yemen to leave without delay. It will not come as a surprise that there are risks to remaining in that country." |
| Posted by:Steve White |