Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksAIR.L Share News (AIR)

  • There is currently no data for AIR

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

Poll shows most French oppose arms sales to Saudi-led Yemen coalition

Mon, 26th Mar 2018 02:00

PARIS, March 26 (Reuters) - Seventy-five percent of Frenchpeople want President Emmanuel Macron to suspend arms' exportsto countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United ArabEmirates, involved in the Yemeni war, a YouGov poll showed onMonday.

Pressure has been mounting on Macron to scale back militarysupport for the two Gulf Arab states over concerns that Frenchweapons are being used in the offensive, which marks its thirdyear on Monday.

The two Gulf Arab states are leading a coalition fightingthe Iran-aligned Houthi group that controls most of northernYemen and the capital Sanaa. The conflict has killed more than10,000 people and displaced more than three million.

The poll showed that 88 percent of respondents believedtheir country should stop arms exports to all countries wherethere is a risk they could be used against civilian populationsand specifically 75 percent for those operating in Yemen.

Seven in 10 people said the government should stop exportingweapons to Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

"On the occasion of the third anniversary of Saudi Arabia'swar in Yemen, it is high time for the (French) government tohear this message," said Eoin Dubsky, campaign manager for theSumOfUs NGO, which commissioned the survey.

"Emmanuel Macron, who presents himself to the world as ahumanist president, must pass from words to deeds."

The poll comes as some European states, notably Germany,have curtailed ties with the Saudi-led military coalition.France, Britain and the United States have not followed suit.

France is the world's third-biggest arms exporter and countsSaudi Arabia and the UAE among its biggest purchasers.

Unlike many of its allies, French export licensingprocedures have no parliamentary checks or balances, making thesystem particularly opaque.

The poll showed that 69 percent of people wanted to see astrengthening of the role of the French parliament incontrolling arms sales.

The survey was conducted online between March 20-21 with asample of 1,026 people from various strands of the Frenchpopulation aged 18 and over.(Reporting by John Irish, editing by David Evans)

More News
16 Mar 2018 21:26

INTERVIEW-Boeing moves to keep 777X on track after engine snag

* Boeing plans engine swap to avoid delays after GE glitch * Starts work on fuselage assembly using automated process * Boeing says overcoming earlier snags on wing spars First 777X

Read more
16 Mar 2018 19:54

Boeing 737 Max 7 narrowbody jetliner makes maiden flight

By Tim Hepher SEATTLE, March 16 (Reuters) - The smallest member of Boeing Co's upgraded narrowbody jetliner range, the 138-seat 737 MAX 7, began a maiden flight on

Read more
16 Mar 2018 10:59

GKN top 30 shareholder plans to reject Melrose bid

LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - A top 30 shareholder in British engineering company GKN plans to reject a hostile takeover bid from industrial turnaround specialist Melrose , the

Read more
16 Mar 2018 00:59

PRESS DIGEST- British Business - March 16

March 16 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The Nex Plc

Read more
15 Mar 2018 13:02

UPDATE 1-GKN's takeover defence boosted as Airbus voices concerns

* Customer Airbus voices fears over "shorter term" investor * GKN seizes on comments to bolster defence campaign * Bidder Melrose says takes long-term approach to GKN Sarah

Read more
15 Mar 2018 10:44

TOP NEWS: GKN Backs Airbus Views On Hostile Melrose Industries Bid

LONDON (Alliance News) - Automotive and aerospace components manufacturer GKN PLC on Thursday agreed with comments made by its biggest customer Airbus SE in regards to the bid

Read more
15 Mar 2018 08:49

Airbus would struggle to work with "shorter term" owner of GKN

LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - European planemaker Airbus said it would find it "practically impossible" to give new work to GKN under a short-term ownership likely to

Read more
15 Mar 2018 07:09

UPDATE 2-Lufthansa's growth plans clipped by plane delivery delays

* Reports 70 jump in 2017 profit * Cuts 2018 capacity plans to 9.5 pct from 12 pct * Expects slight drop in 2018 profit due to fuel headwind * Shares up 2.3 pct at top of with

Read more
15 Mar 2018 06:59

PRESS: Airbus Warns On Giving New Work To GKN, If Melrose Bid Succeeds

LONDON (Alliance News) - Aircraft maker Airbus SE has warned that it would be "practically impossible" to give new work to aerospace and automotive engineering group

Read more
14 Mar 2018 17:13

LIVE MARKETS-Closing snapshot: Wall Street's trade war fear sours the mood

March 14 - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to share your on A

Read more
14 Mar 2018 16:52

LIVE MARKETS-"The only irreversible thing in life is death, not a currency"

March 14 - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to share your on A

Read more
14 Mar 2018 15:54

LIVE MARKETS-Morrisons might be feeling "confident", but investors are not

March 14 - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to share your on a

Read more
14 Mar 2018 15:46

LIVE MARKETS-Just Eat: delivering uncertainty

March 14 - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to share your on -

Read more
14 Mar 2018 15:15

LIVE MARKETS-adidas seen from the street

March 14 - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to share your on -

Read more
14 Mar 2018 13:20

LIVE MARKETS-All quiet on the Russian front... of M&A

March 14 - Welcome to the home for real time coverage of European equity markets brought to you by Reuters stocks reporters and anchored today by Helen Reid. Reach her on Messenger to share your on a

Read more

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.