White House denounces new violence in Yemen

The White House on Tuesday condemned violence in Yemen, where heavy fighting between the government and a group of minority Shiite Muslims has spilled into the streets of the capitol city of Sanaa.

President Obama is “very interested in pursuing a peaceful solution” and receiving regular updates from his national security team, senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said Tuesday in an interview with MSNBC.

“He’s obviously in touch with the folks on the ground, the embassy,” Jarrett said, adding that keeping U.S. diplomatic workers safe was Obama’s “top priority.”

Earlier Tuesday, UPI reported that unidentified militants fired shots at a vehicle containing U.S. diplomatic staff, but that none were injured.

Rebels have seized state media outlets and the presidential palace, and attacks continued on the prime minister’s residence, according to multiple media reports. That’s despite a cease-fire signed Monday after nine people were killed and 67 others were injured.

The State Department said Monday it had no plans to evacuate the U.S. embassy, and Jarrett deflected a question on the possibility in her interview with MSNBC.

“I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves,” Jarrett said.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was “gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation” in a statement Tuesday.

“The secretary-general calls on all sides to immediately cease all hostilities, exercise maximum restraint, and take the necessary steps to restore full authority to the legitimate government institutions,” said a statement issued by the United Nations.