The BBC has condemned an attack on its Yemen reporter, urging the authorities in Sanaa to ensure the safety of all journalists working in the country.

It says reporter Abdullah Ghorab was set upon by men with batons and knives, “who appeared to be supporters of the outgoing president Ali Abdullah Saleh”.

Mr Ghorab escaped, but his two brothers were badly beaten up.

The BBC says journalists should be able “to report freely from Yemen without fear of violence or intimidation”.

In a statement, the British broadcaster said Mr Ghorab was attacked by the armed gang in Sanaa on Wednesday.

“We are deeply concerned that this was a deliberate attack and we condemn it in the strongest terms,” the BBC World Service’s Liliane Landor said.

The statement added that it was not the first security incident targeting Mr Ghorab in Yemen.

“He has been detained and assaulted on two previous occasions and was verbally attacked by Yemen deputy information minister last September.”

“Attacks of this nature only serve to harm the country in the eyes of the world,” Ms Landor said.

The authorities in Sanaa have so far made no public response to the BBC’s statement.

Yemen has been gripped by months of anti-government unrest and fighting between armed factions.

(Source: BBC)