President Saleh meets UK foreign ministry official

SANA'A, Jan. 18 (Saba) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh met here on
Sunday with the Deputy Director of Middle East Department at the UK
Foreign Ministry Christian Turner.

The meeting reviewed the latest developments in the region, in
forefront of them is the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians
in Gaza.

The current arrangements for holding the regional conference on
maritime security and combating piracy to be held in Yemen next
February were also discussed in the meeting.

President Saleh stressed on the significance of UK role to exert
pressure on Israel to halt the aggression and end the unfair siege
on the Palestinian people.

He praised the Yemeni-UK ties and cooperation relations,
appreciating the British government's support to the development and
democracy in Yemen.

For his part, the British official assured his country's support to
the development, democracy and unity of Yemen, hailing Yemen's
efforts in combating terrorism and piracy.

BA/AF