French in Yemen told to steer clear of hotels

Tensions have risen in Yemen since a local Al Qaeda group claimed it was behind the failed bomb plot on flight 253 on December 25. [Getty Images]

French expatriates living in Yemen have been told to avoid hotels frequented by British and Americans following direct threats to places frequented by westerners, according to France 24.

Many embassies have also closed in Sanaa following concerns over  a local branch of al Qaeda.

One French expat who lives in the capital told the news network she’d been told by the French Embassy in Yemen to “keep a low profile”.

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“I live close to the German and French embassies. This morning we received a press release [from the French embassy] stating that it would be closed to the public,” she explained.

“Afterwards soldiers blocked the roads and stopped residents from getting through. The French embassy asked us to keep a low profile and avoid going to hotels frequented by Americans as well as the ‘British Club' [private members' club], where most of the British spend their time.”

Yemen has been dealing with a Shiite rebellion in the north and a separatist movement in the south for several years.

However, since a Yemeni al Qaeda group claimed responsibility for the failed flight 253 attack on December 25, Yemen has come under the international spotlight.

After receiving direct threats, both the US and the UK embassies closed their doors in Sanaa on Sunday with the German and French embassies closing on Monday.