Japan said Monday it had temporarily shut its embassy in Yemen, adding to the latest exodus of foreign diplomats over security fears after a Shiite militia takeover.

Operations at the mission in Sanaa were suspended as of Sunday due to the "worsening security situation" in the country, the foreign ministry said. 

Its staff have evacuated to the Japanese embassy in Qatar, from where they will be fulfilling some duties.

Tokyo has urged its citizens to leave the strife-racked country as the security situation deteriorates.

Huthi militiamen dissolved Yemen's government and parliament on February 6 after seizing the presidential palace and key government buildings.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has warned that Yemen is falling apart, and called for the reinstatement of Western-backed President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.