SANAA // The GCC called on the United Nations to take forceful action over Yemen on Saturday, amid concerns that the country is collapsing after a rebel takeover.

During an emergency meeting at Riyadh Air Base on Saturday, held to discuss the ongoing crisis, GCC foreign ministers urged the “UN Security Council to take a decision under Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter,” which allows the use of military force if there are breaches of the peace or acts of aggression.

The UAE was represented at the talks by Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

In a statement at the end of their meeting, Yemen’s six Gulf neighbours called for immediate international steps to guarantee the safety of former president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, now under effective house arrest, and of his prime minister.

They also called for an urgent meeting of the Arab League and of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

In an opening statement, Qatar’s foreign minister Khalid Al Attiyah warned the situation in Yemen will affect “stability and security in the whole region as well as the world”.

“Yemen faces the most dangerous challenges since the 2011 revolution, forcing us to act promptly to help its people and prevent the country from descending into chaos and internal fighting threatening its unity and safety,” Mr Al Attiyah said.

Qatar holds the rotating presidency of the GCC which also includes Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.

The UAE and Spain became the latest countries to close their embassies in the capital Sanaa on Saturday, one day after Saudi Arabia evacuated its embassy staff.

The UAE Foreign Ministry said it had “suspended embassy operations in Sanaa and evacuated all staff”, the state news agency Wam reported.

“This decision comes in light of the increasingly deteriorating political and security situation”, with the Houthis “undermining legitimate authority”.

Germany and Italy took similar action on Friday, following pullouts by France, Britain, the Netherlands and the United States.

At least 26 people died in fighting between Houthi rebels and Sunni tribesmen in Yemen’s south, officials said on Saturday, as tens of thousands marched in Sanaa and other cities to protest against Houthi rule.

The Shiite Houthis, backed by army troops, lost 16 fighters in the clashes that began on Friday night in Bayda province, while the tribesmen lost 10.

In the central city of Ibb, protesters set a Houthi military vehicle ablaze before the rebels fired live rounds to disperse them, wounding at least six.

The Houthis, accused of receiving backing from Iran, dissolved Yemen’s government and parliament on February 6 after seizing the presidential palace and key government buildings.

Last week the GCC denounced the Houthi action as a coup.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said this week that Yemen was “collapsing before our eyes”, and called for Mr Hadi to be restored to power.

Also on Saturday, the families of three protesters detained by the Houthis in Sanaa on Wednesday said that one had died of torture wounds, while the other two had been taken to hospital.

“Saleh Awadh Al Bashiri died at midnight, hours after he was released by the Houthi militia with two of his companions, who were kidnapped by the group during Wednesday’s protest,” one of his relatives said.

The families posted pictures on social media they said were of their sons, showing parts of their bodies bruised and swollen from beatings.

Last Sunday, the Houthis announced a ban on all demonstrations against them, unless the protests were authorised by the interior ministry, which is now under the militias’ control.

The rebels have since been accused of attacking and detaining protesters and reporters.

* Agence France-Presse and Associated Press