DAMMAM: India yesterday condemned the ghastly suicide bombing in Yemen that claimed more than 90 lives on Monday.

Speaking at the third ministerial meeting of the Friends of Yemen in Riyadh, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said: “We express our heartfelt condolences to the people of Yemen. Such incidents serve only to further strengthen our resolve to fight the forces of terrorism.”

He congratulated Gulf Cooperation Council states and the United Nations for having initiated the process of peaceful political transition in Yemen, “thereby preventing the country and the region from plunging into a new turmoil.”

He said India supported peace, security, stability and territorial integrity of Yemen.

“We are aware of the extraordinary political, security, economic and humanitarian challenges faced by Yemen in the current times. India expresses its solidarity with the people and the government of Yemen in addressing various challenges,” said Ahamed.

According to him, India is conscious of the humanitarian needs of Yemen. “A consignment of rice valued at $ 2 million is on its way to Yemen. In addition, we would be happy to look at specific proposals for assistance from the Yemeni government, particularly in the field of training, capacity building and entrepreneurship development,” he said.