Embassies in Yemen Hit, May Evacuate

As tank battles between Marxist factions raged today in the capital of South Yemen, several Western countries and the Soviet Union were arranging to evacuate their citizens after foreign embassies were shelled, sources said.

The fighting also was reported spreading to tribal regions of the pro-Soviet country, diplomatic sources in Manama, Bahrain, said.

Fighting broke out Monday, apparently started by hard-line Marxists in the military opposed to President Ali Nasser Hasani’s reported desire to liberalize the economy and improve ties with pro-Western Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman.

There were no further details on the reported tank battles, but the foreign minister of Djibouti, a small African nation about 30 miles west of South Yemen across the Red Sea, said, “The situation is deteriorating.”

No Confirmation

In Washington, State Department officials have said they have no “confirmed reports” of any Americans in South Yemen.

Djibouti Foreign Minister Moumin Bahdon Farah also told reporters that the Soviet Union had asked his government to help evacuate Soviet citizens.

The Soviet Union has a heavy stake in South Yemen, its closest ally on the Arabian Peninsula. The Soviets maintain naval bases in the Nevada-sized country and can station up to 18,000 troops there under a treaty signed in 1979.

Britain and West Germany said today that they are considering joining a multinational effort to rescue foreign nationals from Aden.

International Contact

A Foreign Office spokesman in London said Britain was in contact with the Soviet Union, France, West Germany and Italy, all of whom have citizens in Aden, to see if an international evacuation effort should be launched.

At least 60 British citizens are thought to be trapped in the fighting, which has swept Yemen for five days.

In Bonn, a West German Foreign Ministry official said a Soviet-aided joint evacuation effort was being considered but added that the Soviets “have only limited possibilities available.” He did not elaborate.

British Ships in Port

Three British ships sailed into the port of Aden on Thursday evening, the ministry said.

The West German Embassy in Aden was hit by shellfire and 11 West Germans, including two children, were moved to the U.N. Development Program offices or to the Aden residence of the Bonn consul, the official said.

French Environment Minister Huguette Bouchardeau said French nationals in South Yemen will be taken to Djibouti as soon as possible. The French Foreign Ministry said its embassy in South Yemen was hit by shellfire, but damage was minor.