Indian nationals in Yemen safe

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) India has said all its 14,000nationals in Yemen are safe but issued an advisory asking thecitizens to avoid non-essential travel to that country whichis witnessing anti-government protests for the past one weekreportedly killing 12 people and wounding dozens.

"The Embassy of India in Sana�a has set up a 24-hourhelpline which can be accessed for information or assistance.

There are around 14,000 Indians in Yemen who are reported tobe safe. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy ofIndia in Sana�a are following the developments closely,"official Spokesperson of the MEA said here.

He also said Indian nationals are advised to avoidnon-essential travel to Yemen for the present.

Protests have become increasingly violent inpoverty-stricken Yemen despite calls by Yemeni President AliAbdullah Saleh, who was elected to a seven-year-term inSeptember 2006, urging dialogue to form a government ofnational unity.