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Yemen’s Prime Minister Resigns Amid Chaos and Another Cease-Fire Yemen’s Prime Minister Resigns Amid Chaos and Another Cease-Fire
(35 minutes later)
SANA, Yemen — An assault on Yemen’s capital rocked the transitional government on Sunday as fighters from a Shiite rebel group seized official buildings, and in the face of the violence, the military showed signs of splitting apart and the prime minister abruptly resigned. SANA, Yemen — An assault on Yemen’s capital rocked the transitional government on Sunday as fighters from a Shiite rebel group seized official buildings, and in the face of the violence, the military showed signs of splitting apart and the prime minister abruptly resigned.
The rebels, known as the Houthis and armed with automatic riffles and artillery mounted on trucks, battled security forces in the streets, with shells exploding around contested military facilities in the center of Sana, the capital. News reports said at least 140 had died in the past four days of fighting. The rebels, known as the Houthis and armed with automatic rifles and artillery mounted on trucks, battled security forces in the streets, with shells exploding around contested military facilities in the center of Sana, the capital. News reports said at least 140 had died in the past four days of fighting.
Late Sunday evening, the office of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi issued a statement signed by Houthi representatives and others saying that the two sides had agreed to a cease-fire under the mediation of the United Nations’ special representative, Jamal Benomar. The statement said the agreement “calls for the formation of a technocratic national government” and pledged to address “many aspects of the current crisis.” Late Sunday, the office of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi issued a statement signed by Houthi representatives and others saying the two sides had agreed to a cease-fire under the mediation of the United Nations’ special representative, Jamal Benomar. The statement said the agreement “calls for the formation of a technocratic national government” and pledged to address “many aspects of the current crisis.”
But a similarly vague peace agreement announced by Mr. Benomar on Saturday night did not last until dawn.But a similarly vague peace agreement announced by Mr. Benomar on Saturday night did not last until dawn.
The Houthis’ swift advance through the capital is certain to exacerbate sectarian and political tensions in the region: Saudi Arabia and the other Sunni Muslim-led Persian Gulf states say they believe that the Shiite rebels in Yemen are backed by Iran, a Shiite state.The Houthis’ swift advance through the capital is certain to exacerbate sectarian and political tensions in the region: Saudi Arabia and the other Sunni Muslim-led Persian Gulf states say they believe that the Shiite rebels in Yemen are backed by Iran, a Shiite state.
Saudi Arabia previously sent troops to Bahrain to tamp down an uprising by its Shiite majority, and the Sunni gulf states are waging a fierce proxy fight against Iran through the conflict in Syria.Saudi Arabia previously sent troops to Bahrain to tamp down an uprising by its Shiite majority, and the Sunni gulf states are waging a fierce proxy fight against Iran through the conflict in Syria.
The Houthis’ assault also risks more sectarian clashes with the Sunni Muslim extremists from the southern Yemen strongholds of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The violence is already jeopardizing the ability of Yemen’s feeble government to continue working with Washington against the Qaeda group, which American officials say may be the branch of terrorist network that is most threatening to the West.The Houthis’ assault also risks more sectarian clashes with the Sunni Muslim extremists from the southern Yemen strongholds of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The violence is already jeopardizing the ability of Yemen’s feeble government to continue working with Washington against the Qaeda group, which American officials say may be the branch of terrorist network that is most threatening to the West.
The current conflict began building weeks ago, when thousands of supporters of the Houthis, who are named for a powerful northern clan, began staging protests and blocking roads to demand the reinstatement of fuel subsidies and a government shake-up. But by Thursday, the protests had escalated into sporadic fighting in the capital. President Hadi has denounced the Houthi attacks as an attempted coup.The current conflict began building weeks ago, when thousands of supporters of the Houthis, who are named for a powerful northern clan, began staging protests and blocking roads to demand the reinstatement of fuel subsidies and a government shake-up. But by Thursday, the protests had escalated into sporadic fighting in the capital. President Hadi has denounced the Houthi attacks as an attempted coup.
On Saturday, the Houthis seized the state television building, a central symbol of the government’s power. State news media reported Saturday night that military units were moving to recapture it, but instead the Houthis appear to have willingly turned over the site to the military police, a force that is regarded as independent of the government and perhaps potentially sympathetic to the rebels.On Saturday, the Houthis seized the state television building, a central symbol of the government’s power. State news media reported Saturday night that military units were moving to recapture it, but instead the Houthis appear to have willingly turned over the site to the military police, a force that is regarded as independent of the government and perhaps potentially sympathetic to the rebels.
By Sunday, certain military units, including the Fourth Brigade and a military leadership center, had appeared to shift their support to the Houthis instead of the government, perhaps switching loyalties to back the winning side.By Sunday, certain military units, including the Fourth Brigade and a military leadership center, had appeared to shift their support to the Houthis instead of the government, perhaps switching loyalties to back the winning side.
As darkness fell, the Houthis and their military allies had control of the state radio building, as well as the state television building and the prime minister’s office.As darkness fell, the Houthis and their military allies had control of the state radio building, as well as the state television building and the prime minister’s office.
But Houthi forces continued to battle other military units, including a major division led by Brig. Gen. Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, a powerful military commander with ties to Yemen’s mainstream Sunni Islamist party, Islah.But Houthi forces continued to battle other military units, including a major division led by Brig. Gen. Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar, a powerful military commander with ties to Yemen’s mainstream Sunni Islamist party, Islah.
Local news reports and a security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the Houthis had taken the headquarters of General Ahmar’s First Armored Division as well. The general’s whereabouts was unknown.Local news reports and a security official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that the Houthis had taken the headquarters of General Ahmar’s First Armored Division as well. The general’s whereabouts was unknown.
The security official said the Houthis were also surrounding the Interior Ministry. The ministry issued a conciliatory statement, ordering its personnel, including the police, to “cooperate with” the rebels "in consolidating security and stability.” The statement said the ministry considered the Houthis “friends of the police in the service of the general interest of the homeland.” The security official said the Houthis were also surrounding the Interior Ministry. The ministry issued a conciliatory statement, ordering its personnel, including the police, to “cooperate with” the rebels “in consolidating security and stability.” The statement said the ministry considered the Houthis “friends of the police in the service of the general interest of the homeland.”
The full reasons for the resignation of the prime minister, Mohammed Salem Basindwa, were not immediately clear. He is also linked to the Islah party, but the Houthis and others have accused him of corruption.The full reasons for the resignation of the prime minister, Mohammed Salem Basindwa, were not immediately clear. He is also linked to the Islah party, but the Houthis and others have accused him of corruption.
“I have decided to tender my resignation from the government out of my concern to pave the way for any agreement reached between the brother leaders of Ansarullah” — the party of the Houthis — “and brother Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the president of the republic,” the prime minister wrote in a letter of resignation, according to Reuters.“I have decided to tender my resignation from the government out of my concern to pave the way for any agreement reached between the brother leaders of Ansarullah” — the party of the Houthis — “and brother Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, the president of the republic,” the prime minister wrote in a letter of resignation, according to Reuters.
Houthi news outlets, meanwhile, published a version of the letter in which the prime minister accused President Hadi of corruption. Its authenticity could not be confirmed.Houthi news outlets, meanwhile, published a version of the letter in which the prime minister accused President Hadi of corruption. Its authenticity could not be confirmed.
A state news agency reported that the president had not yet accepted the prime minister’s resignation.A state news agency reported that the president had not yet accepted the prime minister’s resignation.