European parliament calls for ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia

The European parliament has called on the EU to ban arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Members of the parliament (MEPs) said that Britain, France and other EU governments should stop selling weapons to a country which stands accused of targeting civilians in Yemen.

As many as 359 MEPs voted in favour of the embargo; 212 voted against and 31 abstained. The vote is not legally binding but the MEPs hope to exert pressure on the EU member states to put it into effect.

The UN estimates that 6,000 people have been killed in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition began military operations there in March last year.