Sycophants dismiss head of state in Asian country (5)

I believe the answer is:

yemen

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'asian country' is the definition.
(Yemen is an example)

I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for yemen that I've seen before include "Country bordering Oman" , "Country to south of Saudi Arabia" , "Republic sited on the SW corner of Arabia" , "Country to W. of Oman" , "Arab country" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.

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