India advises nationals to leave Yemen
India's foreign ministry on Friday advised its 14,000 nationals in Yemen to leave because of escalating violence between rebels and forces loyal to President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
At least two dozen people have been killed since Wednesday as government troops battle heavily armed supporters of the country's most powerful tribal leader, who has accused the government of stoking a civil war.
The move by the Indian government came amid calls from Gulf countries for Saleh to step down.
"All Indian nationals living in the country are advised to exit the country through whatever commercial means available," India's foreign ministry said in a travel advisory posted on its website.
The ministry also stated that the 14,000 Indians living in Yemen should "not venture out except under absolutely unavoidable circumstances".
The Indian embassy and the ambassador in Yemen will continue to function in Yemen and will provide assistance to the nationals, it stated.
Impoverished Yemen's economy is on the brink of collapse after four months of anti-regime protests and a political deadlock that has dragged the country into deadly tribal feuds.
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