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Aden ports reopened but rebels still outside presidential palace and residence Aden ports reopened, but rebels remain outside presidential palace and residence
(about 5 hours later)
SANAA, Yemen — Authorities in southern Yemen re-opened Aden’s air and sea ports on Thursday in a sign tensions have eased, but heavily armed rebels remained stationed outside the Yemeni president’s house and palace in the capital despite a deal reached yesterday calling for their immediate withdrawal. SANAA, Yemen — Important air and sea links reopened in southern Yemen on Thursday in a sign of easing tensions, but heavily armed rebels remained outside presidential compounds despite a deal calling for their immediate withdrawal.
News agencies reported seeing Shiite rebel gunmen outside the house of embattled Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, just west of the capital, Sanaa, midday Thursday, and outside the presidential palace in the capital. Days of rapid advances by the Houthi rebels, believed backed by Iran, have left them effectively in control of the political direction of Yemen — a country carved up by various factions, including a powerful branch of al-Qaeda.
Rebels stormed the palace after intense clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels demanding better representation in government. In a deal reached late Wednesday to end the rebel siege, the government promised to respond to demands from the dominant Houthi group. Among the critical issues is the fate of Yemen’s Western-allied president, who has been a key partner in U.S.-led efforts to cripple al-Qaeda with drone strikes and other pressures.
There was also no word on another part of the deal struck Wednesday — whether the president’s chief of staff, kidnapped Saturday, had been released. A deal Wednesday appeared to give President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi a chance to remain in his post after agreeing to demands that included giving the Shiite rebels greater powers.
Aden’s air and sea ports were re-opened Thursday, however, after being closed Wednesday after heavy fighting in the capital. The scope of the accord was thrown into question, however, after rebel fighters held their positions outside Hadi’s residence and the presidential palace in the capital, Sanaa.
Authorities in Aden said they were opening the ports in response to the agreement struck Wednesday, which also called for all state institutions to return to work today, news agencies reported. The rebels, meanwhile, sought to strengthen their grip on the country with attacks in central Marib province, the country’s main oil and gas region. Yemen’s exports are tiny compared with energy-rich neighbors in the region, but the revenue is critical in the Arab world’s most impoverished nation.
The agreement between the two sides called for an end to a siege of the president’s residence and the end of the rebel offensive that both the Yemeni government and regional Arab states have decried as a coup attempt. Tribal leaders said their militiamen had held off an attempt by Houthi units to capture an army base in Marib, the Reuters news agency reported.
In the southern city of Aden, the airport and seaports were reopened Thursday, a day after they were closed by authorities fearing a widening of the unrest, news agencies reported.
The agreement Wednesday between the two sides called for the Houthis to end their siege of the president’s residence and call off their offensive, which the Yemeni government and regional Arab states have decried as a coup attempt.
Hadi agreed to the deal after Houthi rebels seized his presidential palace and surrounded his residence about three miles away, according to aides.Hadi agreed to the deal after Houthi rebels seized his presidential palace and surrounded his residence about three miles away, according to aides.
The accord, announced by the state-run SABA news agency, included deep concessions to the Houthi rebels. It was confirmed by Information Minister Nadia Sakkaf in a Twitter message. The accord, announced by the state-run SABA news agency, included deep power-sharing concessions to the Houthi rebels.
The Houthi offensive badly undermined the authority of a leader who is considered an important ally of Washington in the fight against Yemen’s powerful al-Qaeda affiliate. Hours before the pact, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that Hadi remains the head of “the legitimate Yemeni government” and that “we remain in touch with him.” She said U.S. counter­terrorism cooperation with his government is continuing “at this point in time.”
There was no immediate response to the reported deal in Washington. Earlier Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters that Hadi remains the head of “the legitimate Yemeni government” and that “we remain in touch with him.” She said U.S. counter­terrorism cooperation with his government is continuing “at this point in time.”
White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the Obama administration was monitoring the situation “minute by minute.”White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the Obama administration was monitoring the situation “minute by minute.”
“We’ll take whatever steps are necessary to protect American citizens up to and including evacuating the embassy if we determine that’s necessary,” he told reporters.“We’ll take whatever steps are necessary to protect American citizens up to and including evacuating the embassy if we determine that’s necessary,” he told reporters.
The fighting has been the most intense since the Houthis stormed into the capital in September and began taking control of Yemen’s institutions, as well as at least nine provincial capitals. The latest offensive raised fears that Yemen could plunge into a power vacuum, if not a full-scale civil war, that could be exploited by militants linked to al-Qaeda.The fighting has been the most intense since the Houthis stormed into the capital in September and began taking control of Yemen’s institutions, as well as at least nine provincial capitals. The latest offensive raised fears that Yemen could plunge into a power vacuum, if not a full-scale civil war, that could be exploited by militants linked to al-Qaeda.
The terrorist network’s Yemeni affiliate, known as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), claimed responsibility for a Jan. 7 attack in Paris on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo that triggered three days of violence that left 20 people dead, including the three perpetrators. The terrorist network’s Yemeni affiliate, known as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), claimed responsibility for a Jan. 7 attack in Paris on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The assault triggered three days of violence that left 20 people dead, including the three perpetrators.
A Yemeni presidential aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety, said Hadi has been stripped of significant authority by the deal with the Houthis. In a televised speech Tuesday evening, the Houthi leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, threatened Hadi with more attacks if he did not give in. The rebels’ demands included a bigger role in drafting a new constitution acceptable to the Houthis, who have waged an intermittent war against the government since 2004. The majority of Yemen’s population is Sunni Muslim.A Yemeni presidential aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety, said Hadi has been stripped of significant authority by the deal with the Houthis. In a televised speech Tuesday evening, the Houthi leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, threatened Hadi with more attacks if he did not give in. The rebels’ demands included a bigger role in drafting a new constitution acceptable to the Houthis, who have waged an intermittent war against the government since 2004. The majority of Yemen’s population is Sunni Muslim.
Under the deal, according to the SABA report, the president agreed to increase the Houthis’ representation in parliament and heed their constitutional demands. Yemen would also become a federal state, although it was not immediately clear whether that would mean retaining a proposal in an existing draft constitution to create six federalized provinces. The Houthis have rejected that idea.Under the deal, according to the SABA report, the president agreed to increase the Houthis’ representation in parliament and heed their constitutional demands. Yemen would also become a federal state, although it was not immediately clear whether that would mean retaining a proposal in an existing draft constitution to create six federalized provinces. The Houthis have rejected that idea.
The document also calls for more participation in the government by people in southern Yemen, where a separatist movement has gained momentum in recent years.The document also calls for more participation in the government by people in southern Yemen, where a separatist movement has gained momentum in recent years.
The Houthi assault alarmed Yemen’s neighbors, especially Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, which see the Shiite insurgents as proxies for Iran. Earlier Wednesday, foreign ministers from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, harshly condemned the assault, calling it a “coup d’etat.”The Houthi assault alarmed Yemen’s neighbors, especially Sunni Arab states such as Saudi Arabia, which see the Shiite insurgents as proxies for Iran. Earlier Wednesday, foreign ministers from the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC, harshly condemned the assault, calling it a “coup d’etat.”
The council, which consists of Yemen’s Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman — demanded that the government be allowed to reassert control.The council, which consists of Yemen’s Arab neighbors in the Persian Gulf — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman — demanded that the government be allowed to reassert control.
Hadi, who came to power in 2012 after a popular uprising led to the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, fostered unprecedented cooperation between Yemeni forces and the U.S. military in using drone strikes to target al-Qaeda militants.Hadi, who came to power in 2012 after a popular uprising led to the ouster of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, fostered unprecedented cooperation between Yemeni forces and the U.S. military in using drone strikes to target al-Qaeda militants.
However, civilian casualties as a result of the attacks angered many Yemenis.However, civilian casualties as a result of the attacks angered many Yemenis.
Ali al-Bukhayti, an official in the Houthis’ political affairs office, said by telephone that the insurgent group has “no communication” with the United States. “We are not convinced of the usefulness of the so-called U.S. war on al-Qaeda,” he said. He called the drone attacks “a flagrant violation of national sovereignty.” The Houthis themselves have battled al-Qaeda-linked militants before.Ali al-Bukhayti, an official in the Houthis’ political affairs office, said by telephone that the insurgent group has “no communication” with the United States. “We are not convinced of the usefulness of the so-called U.S. war on al-Qaeda,” he said. He called the drone attacks “a flagrant violation of national sovereignty.” The Houthis themselves have battled al-Qaeda-linked militants before.
The Houthis have long demanded more political rights and an end to what they charge is official discrimination. They have portrayed their assault on the capital as part of a campaign to end corruption and initiate reforms that many Yemenis see as having stalled under Hadi’s leadership.The Houthis have long demanded more political rights and an end to what they charge is official discrimination. They have portrayed their assault on the capital as part of a campaign to end corruption and initiate reforms that many Yemenis see as having stalled under Hadi’s leadership.
The Houthis, who follow the Zaydi sect of Shiite Islam, reject accusations that they are acting as a proxy for Iran, which is led by Shiite clerics. Zaydis form about a third or more of Yemen’s population.The Houthis, who follow the Zaydi sect of Shiite Islam, reject accusations that they are acting as a proxy for Iran, which is led by Shiite clerics. Zaydis form about a third or more of Yemen’s population.
Daniela Deane contributed to this report from London. Deane reported from London. Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.