PM: Relocating Yemen's central bank meant to protect economy from collapse

The Yemeni government's decision to relocate the Central Bank of Yemen from Sanaa to Aden is meant to protect the country's economy from collapse, Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr said.

On Sunday, President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi moved the headquarters of the Central Bank of Yemen following government complaints that the central bank and its governor had failed to handle the country's financial crisis objectively after becoming beholden to the Houthi enemy who control Sanaa.

The government will continue to shoulder its responsibilities towards the Yemeni people and protect their lives, Daghr pledged during a Riyadh-hosted meeting with the acting UK ambassador to Yemen on Wednesday.

He added that the government has been briefing the UN and the international community on economic violations carried out by Houthi militants throughout the past period.

Daghr urged the international community to provide every possible support for the Yemeni government in its bids to maintain the national economy.

The meeting tackled also ways of boosting relations between Yemen and the UK, as well as efforts exerted to fight terrorism in the Arab country, the Yemeni news agency said.

The UK has contributed $50 million for relief and humanitarian activities in Yemen, the British ambassador said.