UK MPs call for halt in arms sales to Saudi

All UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia should be halted until independent inquiries are carried out in alleged breaches of international law in Yemen have been completed, two select committees have said in a joint report.

The committees accuse Saudi of obstructing the investigations into what human rights organisations say have been the effects of the kingdom’s airstrikes in Yemen.

The report said members feared British support, principally through arms sales, was “having the effect of conferring legitimacy” on Saudi Arabia’s actions.

However, in a counter report the foreign affairs committee said the legitimacy of UK arms sales should be decided by a court. It did however call for independent investigations to be held into allegations of violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen.

Saudi intervened in Yemen in March 2015 and the UK has sold it £3.7 billion ($4.9 billion) in arms since.