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Yemen’s political turmoil deepens as president, Cabinet resigns Yemen’s political turmoil deepens as president, Cabinet resigns
(9 minutes later)
SANAA, Yemen — Yemen’s Western-backed president and the rest of the country’s leadership resigned Thursday, news reports said, following days of chaos that have left well-armed rebels in effective control. SANAA, Yemen — Yemen’s Western-backed president and the rest of the country’s leadership resigned Thursday after days of chaos that left well-armed rebels in effective control of a nation on the front lines of the U.S.-led fight against terrorism.
The resignations, reported by the Associated Press, plunged the key U.S. ally into political uncertainty. The rebels — believed backed by Iran — seem to hold the upper hand as the country’s de facto leaders amid a power vacuum. The resignations, reported by news outlets in Yemen, plunged the country into deep political uncertainty. It also forces the West and their Arab allies to quickly reassess their strategies in one of the most volatile corners of the Arabian Peninsula — which include strongholds for a powerful branch of al-Qaeda.
The Houthi rebels — believed backed by Iran — now seem to hold the upper hand as the country’s de facto leaders amid a power vacuum.
[Read: What you need to know about the ongoing tumult in Yemen][Read: What you need to know about the ongoing tumult in Yemen]
Days of rapid advances by the Houthi rebels had already left them in charge of the political direction of Yemen — a country carved up by various factions, including a powerful branch of al-Qaeda. Days of rapid advances by the Houthi fighters had already left them in charge of the political direction of Yemen.
A government spokesman, Rageh Badi, told the AP that the resignations were submitted by the entire Cabinet. Moments, later the AP reported that President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi also would step down. The showdown atmosphere appeared to ease Wednesday after the announcement of a power-sharing accord that left room for President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi — who had been pinned down in his residence — to remain in his post.
A day earlier, Hadi appeared ready to ride out the turmoil under a power-sharing deal with the rebels. It unraveled suddenly a day later with Yemen’s leadership apparently balking at the deal.
Badi gave no further details, but a statement from Prime Minister Khaled Bahah posted on his Facebook page said he resigned to avoid being drawn “into an abyss” of policies “based on no law.” A government spokesman, Rageh Badi, said resignations were submitted by the entire Cabinet. Moments later, Yemen-based media reported the president also would step down.
“We don’t want to be a party to what is happening or will happen,” he added. Badi gave no further details, but a statement from Prime Minister Khaled Bahah posted on his Facebook page that he resigned to avoid being drawn “into an abyss” of policies “based on no law.”
The government was formed in November as part of a U.N.-brokered peace deal after the Houthis overran the capital months earlier. “We don’t want to be a party to what is happening or will happen,” he added, the Associated Press reported.
They now could have sway over Yemen’s military intelligence services. The fast-moving developments also raise questions about the future of U.S. drone attack against the powerful al-Qaeda branch based in Yemen. Military officials, quoted by the AP, said Hadi resigned after the Houthis pressured him to give a televised address seeking to calm the streets. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief journalists.
The government was formed in November as part of a U.N.-brokered peace deal after the Houthis overran the capital months earlier. The president took office in 2012, and was seen as a key partner for U.S. drone strikes and other efforts seeking to cripple al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which claimed a role in the terrorist bloodshed earlier this month in Paris.
The Houthis now could have greater sway over Yemen’s military and intelligence services, raising concerns of greater capabilities and firepower if the nation spills into full-scale civil war.
The fast-moving developments also raise questions about the future of U.S. counterterrorism cooperation in Yemen — although the Houthis consider al-Qeada as a rival.
In Washington, the State Department said it would assess the U.S. diplomatic presence in Yemen as the situation unfolds, but no immediate changes were being planned.
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 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.
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.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.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.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 power-sharing concessions to the Houthi rebels.
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.”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.”
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 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. In a televised speech Tuesday evening, the Houthi leader, Abdulmalik al-Houthi, threatened Hadi with more attacks if he did not give in.
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.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.
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.”
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.
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.
Murphy reported from Washington, and Naylor from Beirut. Daniela Deane in London contributed to this report.Murphy reported from Washington, and Naylor from Beirut. Daniela Deane in London contributed to this report.