Local Editor
The UAE Ambassador to the US, Yousef Al-Otaiba, tried to influence former American President Barack Obama’s policy in Yemen, the Intercept newspaper reported.
Leaked emails from Al-Otaibi appear to show that the Emirati diplomat tried to convince Robert Malley, then a top Middle East advisor to Obama, that human rights reporting which was critical of the US-backed bombing coalition in Yemen was unfairly biased.
During the exchange, which took place in June 2016, Malley responded in disbelief: “Seriously? Believing in human rights is a bias?”
The former US official confirmed the authenticity of the emails to the Intercept but declined to comment further, the organization said.
The UAE is a key member of the Saudi-led coalition in the Yemen war, which has killed 12,000 people, destroyed hospitals, food sources and water infrastructure, and left seven million people on the brink of starvation.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
