Syria reacts to Yemeni crisis

DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Syrian President Bashar Assad affirmed his support Wednesday for the unity of Yemen and rejected claims his country was meddling in its internal affairs.

Assad met with Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Qirbi to discuss the support from Damascus for the current crisis in Yemen.

The Syrian president stressed that dialogue would best serve the unity, security and stability of Yemen, the official Syrian Arab News Agency reports.

Yemen launched a major military offensive against al-Houthi rebels in the northern provinces in early August. A court on Tuesday sentenced several al-Houthi rebel leaders to death in the latest crackdown on the Shiite rebel group.

Qirbi, for his part, said the government aimed to end the battles quickly in order to bring security and stability to the country.

International human-rights groups warned the conflict was creating a humanitarian disaster because of the thousands of families displaces by the violence.

Qirbi noted his visit to Damascus was on behalf of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to stress the distinguished ties between the two countries.