SANAA, 16 Nov — The U.S. Ambassador to Yemen, Steven Seche Monday expressed concern over the government’s clampdown on journalism in Yemen and reiterated his country’s support of freedom of expression.  Seche who was speaking during a press conference organized by the Female Journalists Forum said “growing violations against citizens especially reporters fall back on the legitimacy of the ruling regimes as citizens are part of the system,” adding “it is essential in any society, in particular democratic societies for ordinary citizens like the ones in this hall to participate in the life of their societies.  Regimes get their power and legitimacy from the participation of their citizens.”  He voiced concern over the suspension of a number of newspapers in Yemen saying “we are concerned about the suspension of some newspapers like al-Masder and al-Ayyam because of topics they publish and we are also concerned over the disappearance of some journalists like Muhammad al-Maqaleh and the court sentences against some newspapers and reporters.”  “We appreciate and respect the work of al-Ayyam newspaper and what it provides to its readers in the south and the country as a whole and we consider al-Ayyam as an example of the level of dissatisfaction it created with some officials,” he said, adding “Yemen is facing difficult and serious challenges and the absence of free and responsible press is part of these challenges.”  He advised the government to “solve the problems instead of charging journalists,” and in a reply to a question if the US would pressure the government in Yemen to cease crackdown on the media, he said “we will not use pressure on the government but we encourage the government to allow the press to move freely and provide information for people so they can make decisions about their lives.”