Yemen unrest may force election delay

DUBAI: Yemen's foreign minister said it might be difficult to hold elections as scheduled on February 21 because of insecurity in the impoverished country.

"I am among those who hope that the issue (presidential elections) will take place in the planned manner," Abubakr al-Qirbi said in an interview broadcast on Al Arabiya TV on Tuesday.

"But unfortunately, there are a couple of events relating to security, and if they are not solved ... it will be difficult to run the elections on February 21."

The February election date was originally agreed as part of a UN-backed deal to ease President Ali Abdullah Saleh out of power after months of protests against his rule.