RIYADH - Gulf Arab states expressed deep concern on Sunday over what they called Iranian interference in their internal affairs, in a statement issued after a foreign affairs meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The statement rejected Iran's ‘continuing interference' in the internal affairs of the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, after Iran criticised Saudi Arabia for sending troops to Bahrain which faces protests. The meeting was chaired by UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Gulf Arab countries also urged Yemen's government and opposition to sit down for talks in a bid to overcome more than two months of violence amid a crackdown on anti-government protests. “The Gulf Cooperation Council calls onto all parties in Yemen to return to national dialogue,” GCC Secretary General Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani said at a meeting of foreign ministers of the six countries held in Riyadh. Addressing the opening session, Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani said the meeting was being held amid rapidly changing situation in the Arab world and regional and international developments. He added that the meeting was coinciding with the political crisis in Yemen which had significant ramifications throughout the region. He expressed the hope that the meeting would contribute in boosting the GCC march to realise aspirations of the peoples of the GCC countries. Meanwhile, Yemeni police killed two anti-government demonstrator and wounded hundreds on Sunday, while embattled President Ali Abdullah Saleh called for an end to demands he step down. The unrest, which broke out at the end of January, has so far cost at least 95 lives, according to global human rights watchdog Amnesty International. But despite demands that he resign immediately after more than three decades of autocratic rule, President Saleh has hardened his stance since a massive pro-regime rally on March 25. Protest leaders say the Yemeni president has been emboldened by US support for an ally seen by Washington as a key partner in its battle against Al Qaeda.
