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Rohani holds talks in Yemen

SANAA, Yemen, June 8 (UPI) -- Yemen is expected to bring up Iranian support for a rebel leader during a two-day visit by the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

An official Yemeni source told United Press International Iran's Rohani Rohani will discuss political tensions that erupted after Yemen accused Iran of supporting Yemeni rebel leader Badreddine al-Houthy in the province of Saada, near the Yemeni-Saudi border.

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Rohani began a two-day state visit Wednesday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi denied the charge, saying his government does not wish to interfere in Yemen's internal affairs. He urged the Yemeni government to respect minorities, a reference to the Shiite minority, which was criticized and defamed in government newspapers.

Iran's ambassador to Yemen, Hussein Kamalian, was quoted in the official daily al-Thawra as saying the talks will focus on issues of joint interest. Rohani was expected to brief Yemeni officials on Iran's nuclear activities.

Kamalian hailed "the distinctive and close relations between the two countries."

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