Yemen's president and PM 'resign'

Benno · 2015-01-22T19:22:01+00:00

The political crisis in Yemen has deepened as officials report that both the president and his government have resigned. It comes amid an ongoing stand-off with Shia Houthi rebels. Houthi gunmen have a tight grip on the capital, Sanaa, and are holding a presidential aide who was abducted last week. There are reports that Yemen's parliament has refused to accept the president's resignation. The Houthi leadership had previously committed to withdrawing from key positions around the presidential palace and the home of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. But despite winning concessions under a peace deal agreed on Wednesday, the rebels - who overran Sanaa in September - have not pulled back. Political maze A government source told the BBC that ministers were resigning in protest at the rebels' challenge to Yemen's sovereignty and their seizure of state institutions. In a resignation letter, Yemeni Prime Minister Khaled Baha said the cabinet did not want to be dragged into "an unconstructive political maze". But the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV channel and the AFP news agency are reporting that Yemen's parliament has rejected the resignation offer of President Hadi. Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi speaks during the closing session of the national dialogue conference in Sanaa, Yemen. Hadi submited his resignation Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi has been in power since 2012 Yemen's newly-appointed Prime Minister Khaled Bahah (C) speaks to reporters after the Yemeni parliament voted to support the new government, in Sana'a, Yemen, 18 December 2014 Prime Minister Khaled Baha reportedly resigned in protest at the rebels' behaviour There has been a week of violence in Sanaa with Houthi rebels involved in deadly exchanges with government forces. On Monday, Houthi militiamen opened fire on Mr Baha's convoy and then later laid siege to the presidential palace, where he was staying. Then on Wednesday the home of President Hadi was shelled, shattering a ceasefire that had been agreed only hours earlier. The ceasefire deal had met a series of rebel demands including the expansion of Houthi representation in parliament and state institutions, according to the official Saba news agency. Houthi Shiite Yemeni wearing army uniforms stand on alert during recent clashes, outside the house of Yemen"s President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in Sanaa, Yemen, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 The Shia Houthi rebels have been seeking greater autonomy for their northern heartlands In return, the rebels said they would pull back from their positions and free the president's chief of staff, whom they have held since Saturday. But so far they have not done so. The Houthis, who follow a branch of Shia Islam known as Zaidism, have staged periodic uprisings since 2004 in an effort to win greater autonomy for their northern heartland of Saada province. Since July the rebels have inflicted defeats on tribal and militia groups backed by the leading Sunni Islamist party, Islah, and battled AQAP as they have pushed into central and western provinces. Source:BBC

Thread starter Benno
Start date Jan 22, 2015

Benno

JF-Expert Member

Jan 22, 2015

figganigga

JF-Expert Member

Jan 22, 2015

Elungata

JamiiForums uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.

Accept Learn more…

Back

Top Bottom

Forums

New posts