IRAN FOREIGN MINISTER DUE IN YEMEN SOON

SANA'A, Oct. 17 (Saba) - Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
is to arrive in Yemen today carrying a letter to President Ali
Abdullah Saleh from his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
concerning the bilateral relationship.

Mottaki told the Iranian semi-official Mehr News Agency that the
visit comes because Iran gives more attention to its ties with
Yemen.

Iran seeks to help bring stability to this Muslim country, he said,
adding Yemen has welcomed the visit.

Mottaki's visit comes amid accusations that Iran supported the
Houthi rebels in northern Yemen, with Yemen saying for many times
that the insurgents, who have been fighting the troops since 2004,
received training and funds from Iranian bodies.

However, Yemen does not point directly to the Iranian official side,
as it affirms it has collected much evidence over Iranian aid for
the Houthis.

In this regard, Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Qirbi reclaimed on
Saturday that Iran supported the insurgents, pointing to previous
announcements by the Iranian government when it offered to help put
an end to the conflict in Saada and Amran in north Yemen.

Iran's stance over the issue, either through its offers to help end
the conflict or expressing its concerns about the escalating
situation, has proved Iran is involved, hence, there is no need to
talk about further evidence over the involvement, he said.

Two days ago, Yemen closed the Iranian Hospital in Sana'a, saying
unsettled debt was behind the closure.

FR