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[AcademicSaucer]

The European Parliament has voted in favour of an EU-wide embargo on selling arms to Saudi Arabia.

A resolution calling for a ban on all weapons sales to the country was passed by 359 votes to 212, with 31 MEPs abstaining.

The non-binding motion calls on member states to stop selling weapons to the country, which is currently conducting a widely-criticised military operation in neighbouring Yemen marked by high civilian casualties.


Saudi Arabia is intervening in Yemen to fight Houthi rebels, who control the country’s capital but are not internationally recognised as its government.

Criticism of the country’s military operation have however included the bombing of multiple hospitals run by the charity Médecins Sans Frontières and the deaths of thousands of civilians, including 130 at a single wedding.

While international observers have recognised abuses on all sides, in late December UN human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein said that a “disproportionate” number of attacks of civilians in Yemen had come from the Saudi-led invasion force.

“I have observed with extreme concern the continuation of heavy shelling from the ground and the air in areas with high a concentration of civilians as well as the perpetuation of the destruction of civilian infrastructure – in particular hospitals and schools – by all parties to the conflict, although a disproportionate amount appeared to be the result of airstrikes carried out by Coalition forces,” Mr Zeid said.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-eu-wide-arms-export-embargo-uk-a6895226.html

 

[Succinct Verbosity]

How dare the EU put an embargo on our brave, loyal allies in the middle-east. I for one will be voting to leave the EU, since their views clearlya ren't aligned with Britain's interests.

Spoiler

But seriously, good.

 

[SliceSabre]

Too bad it isn't binding.

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

This will be historic if the United States joins. AFAIK in the case of SA, of the European nations, UK is the largest provider of arms to them!

 

[norinrad]

Threw the backdoor now i guess. Business as usual.

 

[Succinct Verbosity]

This will be historic if the United States joins. AFAIK in the case of SA, of the European nations, UK is the largest provider of arms to them!

Yep. Also, let's not forget ythe UK pushed heavily for Saudi Arabia to be on the UN human rights council.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Yep. Also, let's not forget ythe UK pushed heavily for Saudi Arabia to be on the UN human rights council.

Yeah, I forgot about that one. bunch of hypocrites really.

 

[superdeluxe]

lol non-binding.

 

[norinrad]

lol non-binding.

hahaha yep. People often forget some of these politicians have lucrative jobs waiting for them when they leave politics. Why ruin their careers on moral stuff?

 

[Sheentak]

Ah so that's why the UK wants to leave the EU

 

[Gitaroo]

Next step, sanctions in their oil exports...

 

[PJV3]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/25/david-cameron-brilliant-uk-arms-exports-saudi-arabia-bae

Good timing Cameron "brilliant arms sales".