AFP: Iran's foreign ministry charged on Tuesday that Britain fuelled the military showdown since last August between Shiite rebels and the Yemeni government but was trying to pin the blame on Tehran. TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran's foreign ministry charged on Tuesday that Britain fuelled the military showdown since last August between Shiite rebels and the Yemeni government but was trying to pin the blame on Tehran.
"Some countries fuelled the unrest in Yemen and accused other nations of interfering in this crisis," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters, quoted by the official news agency IRNA.
"Britain tried to accuse Iran and some other countries of interference in order to hide its own face in this crisis."
Clashes erupted on August 11 when Yemeni forces launched "Operation Scorched Earth" — an all-out offensive to stamp out an uprising by members of the Zaidi Shiite minority in northern Yemen.
Sanaa has repeatedly accused elements in Tehran of providing military support to the Shiite rebels in the mainly Sunni country of Yemen, a charge denied by Shiite Iran.
Mehmanparast said the Islamic republic backed the ceasefire which took effect last Thursday in northern Yemen between Sanaa and the Zaidis, who have also denied receiving military support from Tehran.
