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Yemeni president urges rebels to pull out of capital Yemeni president urges rebels to pull out of capital
(34 minutes later)
Yemen’s president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, has urged Shia rebels who overran the capital, Sanaa, at the weekend to withdraw, accusing them of breaching a UN-brokered peace accord. Yemen’s president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, has urged Shia rebels who overran Sana’a at the weekend to withdraw, accusing them of breaching a UN-brokered peace accord.
Houthi rebels who had besieged Sanaa for a month seized key state installations on Sunday without any resistance, after clashes with Sunni Islamists and tribes on the city’s outskirts killed more than 270 people. Houthi rebels who had besieged the capital for a month seized key state installations on Sunday without any resistance, after more than 270 people were killed in clashes with Sunni Islamists and tribes on the city’s outskirts.
An agreement to end the fighting was mediated by the UN envoy Jamal Benomar and signed on Sunday shortly after the rebels, known also as Ansarullah, took control of most of the city. The UN envoy Jamal Benomar mediated an agreement to end the fighting, which was signed on Sunday shortly after the rebels, also known as Ansarullah, took control of most of the city.
Hadi said in an address to the nation: “The legitimate way to implement this agreement is to recognise the state’s authority over the whole country, especially Sanaa.” “The legitimate way to implement this agreement is to recognise the state’s authority over the whole country, especially Sana’a,” Hadi said in an address to the nation.
He said all installations and stolen weapons should be handed back to the authorities, after the rebels seized scores of tanks and armoured vehicles from army bases. All installations and stolen weapons should be handed back to the authorities, he said, after the rebels seized scores of tanks and armoured vehicles from army bases.
The rebels have organised protests demanding the removal of the government, which they accuse of corruption.The rebels have organised protests demanding the removal of the government, which they accuse of corruption.
“Settling accounts by force and acts of vengeance will not build a state,” Hadi said. “Does fighting corruption and state-building come through pillaging houses, miliary bases and government institutions?”“Settling accounts by force and acts of vengeance will not build a state,” Hadi said. “Does fighting corruption and state-building come through pillaging houses, miliary bases and government institutions?”
A proposed security protocol in the accord would have required the rebels to hand over the institutions they seized and to start dismantling their armed protest camps in and around Sanaa once a new premier was named. But rebel representatives refused to sign it. A proposed security protocol in the accord would have required the rebels to hand over the institutions they seized and to start dismantling their armed protest camps in and around Sana’a once a new premier was named. Rebel representatives, however, refused to sign it.
Hadi defended the deal without providing a clear reason for the lightning collapse of resistance. “We were let down by those who put their interests above those of the homeland … those who abandoned their responsibilities and commitments,” he said.Hadi defended the deal without providing a clear reason for the lightning collapse of resistance. “We were let down by those who put their interests above those of the homeland … those who abandoned their responsibilities and commitments,” he said.
He appeared to be referring to backers of the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who stepped aside in February 2012 after a year of Arab Spring-inspired protests, but whose party still controls half of the government. He appeared to refer to backers of the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who stepped aside in February 2012 after a year of protests inspired by the Arab spring, but whose party still controls half of the government.
Hadi has so far failed to name a new prime minister, although the latest agreement stipulated that one should have been appointed by Wednesday. He has appointed two advisers, one representing the rebels and another for southern separatists, as required under the peace deal. Hadi has so far failed to name a new prime minister, and the latest agreement stipulated that one should have been appointed by Wednesday. He has appointed two advisers, one representing the rebels and another for southern separatists, as required under the peace deal.
He said the agreement should be implemented “without procrastination” in order to advance towards a “civil and modern state, based on justice, equality and partnership”.He said the agreement should be implemented “without procrastination” in order to advance towards a “civil and modern state, based on justice, equality and partnership”.
Yemeni authorities have repeatedly accused Iran of backing the rebels, who also appear influenced by Lebanon’s Shia militia Hezbollah, which is supported by Tehran.Yemeni authorities have repeatedly accused Iran of backing the rebels, who also appear influenced by Lebanon’s Shia militia Hezbollah, which is supported by Tehran.