News Wrap: Western countries evacuate embassies in Yemen

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• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  The bombing campaign in Syria and Iraq has done little to stop foreign fighters from joining the Islamic State. U.S. intelligence leaders told a House hearing today that some 20,000 foreign fighters from 90 countries have joined the militants. That includes up to 150 Americans who've tried to reach the war zone inside Syria.

  In Yemen, Britain and France joined the U.S. in closing their embassies, as turmoil spread in the capital city. Crowds protested today in Sanaa against Shiite rebels who took over the government last week. The rebels patrolled the streets and there were scattered reports of beatings and even stabbings.

  Rod Nordland of The New York Times is in Sanaa, I and spoke with him a short time ago.

  Rod Nordland, welcome.

  We understand not only did officials at the U.S. Embassy close it down. They have also abandoned cars at the airport in Sanaa, left weapons in the cars. What is the situation on the ground now?

• ROD NORDLAND, The New York Times:

  Well, they did, but they also left in an orderly way.

  They went into the airport and got on commercial flights. And the Houthis, who are in control of things here, say that they're just taking those cars for safekeeping and they're following Yemeni law. And they're doing their best to try to prevent it from blowing up into any bigger incident than it is actually.

  The surprising thing is, it's actually really pretty calm on the streets in Sanaa these days.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  What would you say the attitude is of this new Houthi government toward the U.S.?

• ROD NORDLAND:

  Well, they're trying to desperately to reach out to the United States and to try to persuade them that they want to be on friendly terms. And they haven't had much success doing that.

  I think the Americans want to see a government in place and one that the Houthis agreed on with other parties, and not one that is just completely dominated by them.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Well, we know that the U.S. and the Houthis are on the same side of the fight against al-Qaida. Could that make for cooperation, is it thought?

• ROD NORDLAND:

  Well, I think it's already making for cooperation.

  You know, the Houthis have long campaign against American drone strikes, even though they're against their bitter enemies, al-Qaida. And since taking control, they have done nothing to interfere with those. In fact, they have dialed back anti-drone and anti-American rhetoric.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  So, Rod, with no U.S. Embassy there, how are they trying to reach out to the U.S.? What is the message?

• ROD NORDLAND:

  Well, they have been — I interviewed their leader here a couple of days ago and he was very adamant about trying to have better relations with the U.S. And he even went so far as to pretty much repudiate their slogan, which includes "Death to America," and say that's just a slogan, we don't mean it literally. You know, we want to be friends with the United States and with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region.

  And he even played down their connection to Iran. It's widely believed that the Iranians finance them. But he said that wasn't true and they didn't want to see the Iranians make way in Yemen either. And so it's a very reassuring message, but it's hard for the Americans to take that seriously when, first of all, they don't have an actual government to deal with here, whether it's a Houthi or other government including the Houthi. And I think they want to see that before they move forward.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Well, it certainly is some interesting signals.

  Rod Nordland talking to us from Sanaa, thank you.

• ROD NORDLAND:

  You're welcome.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  And as U.S. diplomats leave Yemen, there's word the American military exit from Afghanistan may be delayed. The Washington Post reports the administration is considering keeping more troops there for longer than planned. The current plan calls for ending the U.S. military mission entirely by early 2017.

  The leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine gathered this evening for new talks to end the fighting in Eastern Ukraine. The summit took place in Minsk, the capital of neighboring Belarus. A cease-fire announced there last fall has collapsed in a new surge of combat between pro-Russian rebels and Ukrainian troops.

  Another momentous meeting played out in Brussels, as European finance ministers focused on Greece and its debt. When it was over, the two sides disagreed on whether they had made any progress. But, earlier, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, said she would consider the Greek government's ideas for renegotiating a bailout deal.

• CHRISTINE LAGARDE, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (through interpreter):

  They are absolutely competent, intelligent. They have thought about their issues. We have to listen to them. We have to start working together. And it is a process that is starting. And it is going to last a certain time.

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  Greece's current bailout ends on February 28.

  The U.N. Refugee Agency reports more than 300 migrants have died this week trying to cross the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy. It is the latest in a string of such disasters. The victims had no food, water, or way to stay warm and their small rubber boats were overwhelmed by heavy winter seas.

  Also today, the captain of the Italian cruise liner Costa Concordia was found guilty of manslaughter and abandoning his ship. Francesco Schettino now faces 13 — 16 years, that is, in prison for the deaths of 32 people. The cruise ship smashed into rocks off the island of Giglio in January of 2012. The ship filled with water, and rolled onto its side.

  Back in this country, the fight over funding the federal Department of Homeland Security heated up. Though in the minority, Democrats have blocked Senate action on a Republican-backed House bill that funds the department, but undoes the president's executive orders on immigration.

  That prompted this today from House Speaker John Boehner: REP. JOHN BOEHNER, (Speaker of the House: You know, in the gift shop out here, they have got these little booklets on how a bill becomes a law, right? The House has done its job. Now, why don't you go ask the Senate Democrats when they are going to get off their ass and do something, other than to vote no?

• JUDY WOODRUFF:

  A Senate Democrat spokesman responded that — quote — "Cursing is not going to resolve the issue."

  Senate Republicans have said it's up to the House. Without further action, the Homeland Security Department runs out of money February 27.

  The House gave final approval this afternoon to a bill approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline. It now heads to a certain veto at the hands of President Obama. He has said he wants the federal review process to play out. The pipeline would allow oil from Canada's tar sands to flow to Gulf Coast refineries.

  And on Wall Street, stocks marked time, as investors watched the European meetings on Greece. The Dow Jones industrial average lost six points to close near 17860; the Nasdaq rose 13 points on the day; and the S&P 500 was virtually unchange