For his part, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "I am pleased to be here in Riyadh today, for a series of meetings with the Government of Saudi Arabia. The United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have a long history of friendship, understanding and cooperation on a range of issues: defense, security, trade and investment and regional issues. Today was an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to the security and stability of the region. "The UK is extremely concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Yemen. We reiterate our continuing support for President Hadi, Yemen’s legitimate President, and welcome the convening of a regional conference in Riyadh by the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s leadership in dealing with this worsening problem is very much valued," he added. "The international community will not stand idly while Al-Houthi and other parties' forces continue to undermine stability in Yemen and seek to undermine the legitimate president," he stressed. --More 21:25 LOCAL TIME 18:25 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w