The family of a 74-year-old British man sentenced to 350 lashes in Saudi Arabia after being caught with home-made wine pleaded for clemency and government intervention Tuesday.

Karl Andree has served a year in jail but has been told he could face a public flogging.

King Salman on Monday rejected any suggestions that Saudi Arabia should give up its role as the organizer of the hajj following last month's deadly stampede in Mina.

"The irresponsible statements aiming for political exploitation of the incident... shall not affect the role of Saudi Arabia, its duty and responsibilities in serving the guests of God," said the Saudi monarch.

Yemen's premier was in Riyadh on Monday to meet President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and the Saudi-led coalition backing their administration as reports emerged of differences between the two leaders.

"Members of the family or entourage of President Hadi are interfering in the government's affairs," said a Yemeni official, requesting anonymity.

Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition raided positions of the Iran-backed Shiite insurgents east of the rebel-held capital Friday, military sources said.

The air strikes targeted Huthi rebels in the west of Marib province, amid ongoing clashes between them and forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

India said Friday it had lodged a protest with authorities in Riyadh after a maid from Tamil Nadu allegedly had her hand chopped off by her Saudi employer for complaining about her work conditions.

India's foreign minister deplored a "brutal" attack on 55-year-old Kasthuri Munirathinam, who is being treated at a hospital in Riyadh, and which comes weeks after a Saudi diplomat based in New Delhi was accused of rape.

The first bodies of Iranians killed in a stampede at the hajj arrived home from Saudi Arabia Saturday after a controversial nine-day delay and questions over the final death toll.

President Hassan Rouhani and other top officials laid white flowers on coffins at a sombre ceremony in Tehran for the 104 pilgrims -- among 464 Iranians declared dead in the September 24 crush.

Tehran announced on Thursday that four of its diplomats, including its former Lebanese ambassador, were killed in the hajj stampede in Saudi Arabia, reported the Iranian Students News Agency (Isna).

The news agency ended days of speculation over the fate of former envoy Ghazanfar Roknabadi, 49, who was attending the annual Muslim gathering.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened a "fierce" reaction Wednesday if Saudi Arabia does not quickly repatriate victims of last week's hajj stampede.

"Saudi officials are failing to do their duties," Khamenei said in a speech to graduating navy officers, following delays in the return of at least 239 Iranian bodies, accusing some of them of "slyness."

The Saudi-led coalition said on Wednesday it had seized an Iranian fishing boat in the Arabian Sea loaded with weapons destined for Shiite rebels it is fighting in Yemen.

A coalition statement said that the vessel was intercepted on Saturday and that 14 Iranians and weapons including anti-tank shells were found on board.

The U.N. chief's Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Philippe Lazzarini, has lamented that the response of the international community to the needs of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and other countries is weak.

In an interview with An Nahar daily published on Wednesday, Lazzarini said: “The response does not meet the needs.”