Saleh: Urged Arab nations to sever diplomatic ties with Israel

The statement said that a "depressed" Mr Saleh "has refused visitors and telephone calls since Sunday".

It said he was angered by the continued silence of Arab leaders "whose countries are linked by diplomatic relations" with Israel. Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab countries which have signed a peace treaty with Israel.

President Saleh has called for an emergency Arab summit in order to discuss the situation in the Palestinian territories.

Arab 'impotence'

Mr Saleh urged other Arab nations to sever diplomatic ties with Israel.

He said that Arab "impotence" may stem from an unwillingness to anger the US, Israel's staunchest ally.

The Yemeni official news agency, Saba, said that the Arab League had informed its member states of Mr Saleh's request.

Earlier on Sunday Yemen's Foreign Minister, Abubakr al-Qirbi, met European Union ambassadors in an attempt to persuade them to intervene to prevent further Israeli incursions, Saba added.