The Prince of Wales walks with the governor of Riyadh Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud after arriving in Saudi Arabia on the fourth day of his tour to the Middle East

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called for Riyadh's suspension over its conduct in Yemen

Saudi Arabia should be suspended from the UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR) over its conduct in Yemen, two leading human rights charities have said.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch released a joint statement calling for the country to have its membership rights immediately suspended from the group as it has “committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its time as a Council member”.

It highlighted the actions of a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen – where it is alleged to have carried out “indiscriminate” air attacks on civilian targets such as several Medecin Sans Frontieres run-hospitals.

The statement also accused Saudi Arabia of repeatedly using banned cluster munitions in heavily populated civilian areas.

It said: “Despite well-documented violations by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, there has been no accountability.

“Saudi Arabia has failed to conduct credible, impartial and transparent investigations into possible war crimes and has used its position on the Human Rights Council, aided by its allies, to effectively obstruct the creation of an independent international investigation, as urged by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.”

Read more

Expand Close Amnesty International campaigners carrying dummy missiles to Downing Street last month to highlight the government's refusal to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Amnesty International campaigners carrying dummy missiles to Downing Street last month to highlight the government's refusal to halt arms exports to Saudi Arabia

Read More

Saudi Arabia began airstrikes in Yemen in March 2015 in a bid to push back Shia Houthi rebels – who had gained control of vast swathes of the country – and prop up the ousted President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

International commentators have called the Yemen conflict a proxy war between Shia-dominated Iran and Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia.

Expand Close Yemen is mired in conflict / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Yemen is mired in conflict

More than 9,000 people are believed to have been killed in the 15-month conflict with 14 million – approximately half the population – in need of emergency humanitarian assistance.

But Riyadh said in a statement it was “alarmed and outraged” by the claims, saying the coalition’s main goal in Yemen was “the protection of civilians”.

A statement by the Saudi UN mission said: “Saudi Arabia and the coalition have complied with international law at every stage in the campaign to restore Yemen's legitimate government.

Expand Close People gather at the site of a house destroyed by a Saudi-led airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen (AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp People gather at the site of a house destroyed by a Saudi-led airstrike in Sanaa, Yemen (AP)

“We deeply regret any loss of life”.

Saudi Arabia’s appointment to the 47-member OHCHR in 2013 caused widespread outrage as the country has been dubbed “one of the most human rights abusing regimes on Earth”.

The UK Government has been accused of voting for Saudi Arabia to join the council in a secret vote-swapping deal.

Expand Close Yemeni blind men hold a banner during a demonstration gathering disabled people to protest after a center for the blind was reportedly destroyed by Saudi-led airstrikes in the capital Sanaa on January 6, 2016. Nearly 6,000 people have been killed since March, according to UN figures. At least 2,795 of them are civilians. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Yemeni blind men hold a banner during a demonstration gathering disabled people to protest after a center for the blind was reportedly destroyed by Saudi-led airstrikes in the capital Sanaa on January 6, 2016. Nearly 6,000 people have been killed since March, according to UN figures. At least 2,795 of them are civilians. AFP PHOTO / MOHAMMED HUWAISMOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images

Independent

Expand Close A man uses his mobile to take pictures of the rubble of the Chamber of Trade and Industry headquarters after it was hit by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) AP / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A man uses his mobile to take pictures of the rubble of the Chamber of Trade and Industry headquarters after it was hit by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) Expand Close A Yemeni worker looks at the damage at the Noor Centre for the Blind after it was reportedly destroyed by Saudi-led air strikes in the capital Sanaa on January 5, 2016. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A Yemeni worker looks at the damage at the Noor Centre for the Blind after it was reportedly destroyed by Saudi-led air strikes in the capital Sanaa on January 5, 2016. AFP/Getty Images

Independent News Service