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Yemen Presidential Residence and Palace Attacked, Raising Fears of a Coup Houthi Rebels Seize Presidential Palace in What Leader Calls Warning to President
(about 1 hour later)
SANA, Yemen — The presidential residence and palace in Yemen were shelled on Tuesday by Houthi rebel militiamen, the information minister reported, in an escalation of the fighting that has gripped the capital for the past few days and raised fears of a coup in one of the Middle East’s weakest countries. SANA, Yemen — Houthi rebel militiamen seized control of the Yemen president’s palace and shelled his residence on Tuesday, the information minister reported, in an escalation of the violent crisis that has gripped the capital for the past days and raised fears of a coup in one of the Arab world’s weakest countries.
The president of Yemen, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, was believed to be inside the residence, a short distance from the presidential palace in Sana, the capital. It was not immediately clear whether he was safe. The president, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, an important American ally, was believed to be in the capital, but his exact whereabouts was unknown. He made no public statements as the fighting escalated, though Houthi leaders insisted on Tuesday evening that he was safe.
The information minister, Nadia Sakkaf, who has been providing a Twitter feed about the mayhem in the capital, said in one post that the presidential residence had come under heavy shelling by militiamen in the midafternoon and that the presidential palace had also been attacked. Houthi guards were later seen outside both compounds. Later on Tuesday, the most senior Houthi leader, Abdel Malik Al-Houthi, gave a televised speech indicating that the advances by his fighters on Tuesday were intended as a warning to President Hadi, rather than an attempt to depose him. If President Hadi did not respond to a set of demands, Mr. Houthi said, “all necessary measures will be open.”
The mayhem that has convulsed Yemen, which left at least eight people dead on Monday in Sana, is increasingly worrisome to American officials because the country is the home base of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which has asserted responsibility for a number of attacks, most notably the deadly assault on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris this month.
While the Houthis oppose Al Qaeda, they also oppose the strong American influence on Yemen’s government, which has cooperated in dozens of American drone strikes against Al Qaeda leaders and their subordinates.
The Houthi seizure of the presidential palace and shelling of the residence came after what the country’s information minister, Nadia Sakkaf, described as heavy shelling of both by armed militia members.
Ms. Sakkaf, who has been providing a Twitter feed about the increased mayhem in the capital, said in one post that the presidential residence had come under heavy shelling by militiamen in the midafternoon and that the presidential palace had also been attacked.
Houthi guards were later seen outside both compounds.
“Events in Yemen are changing and developing very rapidly,” Ms. Sakkaf said in a series of postings on the violence, which appeared to have shattered a fragile cease-fire that took effect late on Monday.“Events in Yemen are changing and developing very rapidly,” Ms. Sakkaf said in a series of postings on the violence, which appeared to have shattered a fragile cease-fire that took effect late on Monday.
There were conflicting accounts of what appeared to be a political vacuum in the capital. CNN quoted Ms. Sakkaf as saying the situation was “the completion of a coup” and that the president had “no control.” Efforts to contact Ms. Sakkaf about those quoted remarks were not immediately successful, as her phone was switched off.There were conflicting accounts of what appeared to be a political vacuum in the capital. CNN quoted Ms. Sakkaf as saying the situation was “the completion of a coup” and that the president had “no control.” Efforts to contact Ms. Sakkaf about those quoted remarks were not immediately successful, as her phone was switched off.
Reuters quoted a senior official of the Houthi rebels, identified as Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, as saying they had “no intention of targeting President Hadi or his house.” Government officials have accused the Houthi militiamen, members of an increasingly powerful movement whose leaders are Zaydi Shiites from northern Yemen, of trying to carry out a coup.
Government officials have accused the Houthi militiamen, members of an increasingly powerful movement whose leaders are Zaydi Shiites from northern Yemen, of trying to carry out a coup. The Houthis have been pressing Mr. Hadi over troubled negotiations on a draft constitution. The Houthis, who have asserted their strength in Sana more forcefully in recent weeks, have been pressing Mr. Hadi over troubled negotiations on a draft constitution.
Mr. Hadi is an ally of the United States, but the violence in the capital in recent days has raised doubts about his hold on authority and become an increasing concern to the Obama administration.
Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, has a reputation as a breeding ground for Al Qaeda and other militant groups.
Ali Al-Qahoom, a Houthi political leader, said there had been clashes on Tuesday afternoon at Mr. Hadi’s residence, but that by early evening, the fighting had been “contained.”Ali Al-Qahoom, a Houthi political leader, said there had been clashes on Tuesday afternoon at Mr. Hadi’s residence, but that by early evening, the fighting had been “contained.”
By about 6:30 p.m., the streets leading to the president’s residence were quiet, but heavily guarded and blocked by Houthi gunmen, who turned approaching cars away.By about 6:30 p.m., the streets leading to the president’s residence were quiet, but heavily guarded and blocked by Houthi gunmen, who turned approaching cars away.
A five-minute drive from the residence, the presidential palace was also surrounded by Houthi gunmen, on foot and in armored vehicles. Presidential guard troops were seen leaving the palace with their belongings, and said that they had been ordered to leave by the Houthis.A five-minute drive from the residence, the presidential palace was also surrounded by Houthi gunmen, on foot and in armored vehicles. Presidential guard troops were seen leaving the palace with their belongings, and said that they had been ordered to leave by the Houthis.
The deterioration in Yemen on Tuesday preoccupied diplomats at the United Nations Security Council, which held an emergency session to hear from its special envoy to the country, Jamal Benomar.The deterioration in Yemen on Tuesday preoccupied diplomats at the United Nations Security Council, which held an emergency session to hear from its special envoy to the country, Jamal Benomar.
He told diplomats that the rebels had used heavy weapons in an attack on the presidential palace, and that presidential guards had fought back.He told diplomats that the rebels had used heavy weapons in an attack on the presidential palace, and that presidential guards had fought back.
American officials in Yemen disclosed that a United States diplomatic vehicle in Sana came under fire Monday evening at a Houthi checkpoint near the embassy. Christiaan James, a spokesman for the embassy, said Houthi gunmen had first fired in the air then turned their weapons on the vehicle.American officials in Yemen disclosed that a United States diplomatic vehicle in Sana came under fire Monday evening at a Houthi checkpoint near the embassy. Christiaan James, a spokesman for the embassy, said Houthi gunmen had first fired in the air then turned their weapons on the vehicle.
Mr. James did not specify who was inside but said “our personnel were able to get away and there were no injuries.”Mr. James did not specify who was inside but said “our personnel were able to get away and there were no injuries.”