This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/22/world/africa/yemens-former-president-flees-capital.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Yemen’s Former President Flees Capital Yemen’s Former President Flees Capital
(about 2 hours later)
SANA, Yemen — Yemen’s president, held under house arrest for the past month by Houthi militants controlling the country, on Saturday left the capital amid conflicting reports about whether he was released voluntarily or had escaped from his captors. SANA, Yemen — Yemen’s former president, held under house arrest for the past month by Houthi militants controlling the country, on Saturday left the capital amid conflicting reports about whether he was released voluntarily or had escaped from his captors.
President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi left his home early on Saturday morning, where he had been confined by the Houthis since his resignation on Jan. 22 along with the rest of his cabinet, and immediately departed the capital for his home city of Aden, in southern Yemen, according to an official with the United Nations in Sana, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. Early Saturday, Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi left his home in Sana, the capital, where he had been confined by the Houthis since he resigned on Jan. 22 along with the rest of his cabinet. Mr. Hadi headed to Aden, in southern Yemen, according to an official with the United Nations in Sana, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
Traveling overland in a convoy of dozens of vehicles, Mr. Hadi reached Aden by afternoon, and took up residence in the presidential palace there, according to Agence France-Presse.Traveling overland in a convoy of dozens of vehicles, Mr. Hadi reached Aden by afternoon, and took up residence in the presidential palace there, according to Agence France-Presse.
The United Nations official said it was clear that the Houthi militants who control Sana and much of northern Yemen, and dominate its military and police forces, allowed Mr. Hadi to pass through their lines, but added that it was not clear if he passed in disguise or openly.The United Nations official said it was clear that the Houthi militants who control Sana and much of northern Yemen, and dominate its military and police forces, allowed Mr. Hadi to pass through their lines, but added that it was not clear if he passed in disguise or openly.
A Western diplomat in Sana said there were reports that Mr. Hadi had fled hidden in a food truck, and had not been released voluntarily. A Western diplomat in Sana said there were reports that Mr. Hadi had hidden in a food truck and had not been released voluntarily.
Mr. Hadi’s release had been demanded last week by the United Nations Security Council in a unanimous resolution, which also called for the release of his other cabinet members, most of whom, including the country’s prime minister, have also been under house arrest since their resignations alongside Mr. Hadi. It was not immediately clear if they were also released from house arrest on Saturday, although earlier this month the interior and defense ministers, as well as some key intelligence officials from Mr. Hadi’s government, had joined with the Houthis to try to form a new government. Mr. Hadi’s release had been demanded by the United Nations Security Council in a unanimous resolution, which also called for the release of his other cabinet members. Most of them, including the country’s prime minister, have also been under house arrest since their resignations. It was not immediately clear whether they were also released from house arrest on Saturday, although earlier this month the interior and defense ministers, as well as some top intelligence officials from Mr. Hadi’s government, had joined with the Houthis to try to form a new government.
A second United Nations official, speaking in confidence due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, said that Mr. Hadi’s release had been promised by the Houthis as part of the United Nations mediated, interim agreement reached Friday between the Houthis and other political factions. That agreement provided for the formation of a national council, comprising the existing parliament plus a new interim council, which would pass legislation aimed at a transition to a new government. The interim council would include Houthis and other Yemeni factions who feel disenfranchised by Yemen’s current government – a key complaint of the Houthi militants who marched on Sana and took control of it last September, finally forcing Mr. Hadi to step down last month. A second United Nations official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the delicate nature of the discussions, said that Mr. Hadi’s release had been promised by the Houthis as part of the interim agreement reached Friday between the Houthis and other political factions with the help of United Nations mediators.
That interim council would also be made up of 50 percent southerners. Many leaders in southern Yemen have warned of the danger of secession if the Houthis did not relinquish control of the central government. North and South Yemen were long separate states, and broke apart once before after having reunited. The Houthis are a northern tribal-based faction, dominated by members of the minority Zaydi sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam. Most Yemenis are Sunni Muslims. That agreement provided for the formation of a national council, composed of the existing parliament plus a new interim council, which would pass legislation intended to pave the way for a new government. The interim council would include Houthis and other Yemeni factions who feel disenfranchised by Yemen’s current government – a major complaint of the Houthi militants who took control of Sana last September, finally forcing Mr. Hadi to step down last month.
Since forcing Mr. Hadi from power, the Houthis have been increasingly isolated internationally, as the United States and nearly all other Western countries closed their embassies, and even the World Bank last Wednesday shut down its operations there. Saudi Arabia, which views the Houthis as an Iranian-sponsored force, also closed its embassy, underscoring its threat to withhold $4 billion in annual aid to Yemen as long as the Houthis were in power. Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, is heavily dependent on Saudi, Western and World Bank aid. That interim council would also draw 50 percent of its members from southern Yemen. Many leaders in the south have warned of the danger of secession if the Houthis maintain control of the central government. North and South Yemen were long separate states and broke apart once before after having reunited. The Houthis are a northern tribal-based faction, dominated by members of the minority Zaydi sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam. Most Yemenis are Sunni Muslims.
Despite their slogan of “death to America,” and their longstanding campaign against the use of drone strikes by the Americans against al Qaeda, the Houthis have done nothing to interfere with the American counter-insurgency campaign. Since forcing Mr. Hadi from power, the Houthis have been increasingly isolated internationally, as the United States and nearly all other Western countries have closed their embassies, and the World Bank last Wednesday shut down its operations in the country. Saudi Arabia, which views the Houthis as an Iranian-sponsored force, also closed its embassy, underscoring its threat to withhold $4 billion in annual aid to Yemen as long as the Houthis were in power. Yemen, the poorest country in the Middle East, is heavily dependent on Saudi, Western and World Bank aid.
American military officials have said that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the group here is known, is the most serious international terrorism threat, and vowed to continue their operations against them in Yemen. Despite their use of the slogan “death to America,” and their longstanding opposition to American drone strikes against Al Qaeda in Yemen, the Houthis have done nothing to interfere with the American counterinsurgency campaign.
Friday night, Yemeni officials said a drone strike in remote Shabwa Province in southeastern Yemen on a car carrying al Qaeda militants killed three of them. Last week, al Qaeda captured the headquarters of the Yemen National Army’s 19th Brigade in Shabwa. American military officials have said that Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the group in Yemen is known, is the most serious international terrorism threat, and they have vowed to continue their operations against its fighters.
The Al Qaeda militants themselves have earlier claimed that the Americans launched five drone strikes against them in the weeks since the Houthis forced Mr. Hadi’s resignation. The Houthis and al Qaeda are bitter opponents, with al Qaeda attempting to depict itself as the defender of the Sunni majority against an Iranian proxy force. On Friday night, Yemeni officials said a drone strike in the remote Shabwa Province in southeastern Yemen killed three Qaeda militants. Last week, Al Qaeda captured the headquarters of the Yemen National Army’s 19th Brigade in Shabwa.
The Qaeda militants have claimed that the Americans have carried out five drone strikes against them in the weeks since the Houthis forced Mr. Hadi’s resignation. The Houthis and Al Qaeda are bitter opponents, with Al Qaeda trying to depict itself as the defender of the Sunni majority against an Iranian proxy force.