MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) — The Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen rejected the newly formed government and called for the cabinet reshuffle Saturday.
"This cabinet is disappointing and did not adhere to the agreed criteria of the peace and national partnership agreement," a Houthi statement said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
The ruling Yemen's General People's Congress (GPC) party also rejected to support the new government, according to the agency.
Earlier on Saturday GPC dismissed President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi from his post as the party's general secretary, accusing him of soliciting the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council.
The formation of the new government was announced on Friday, as a result of the UN-brokered deal, involving the Houthi rebels. The agreement instructed the president and the prime minister to form a new technocratic government by October 21.
Also on Friday, the UN Security Council's Yemen sanctions committee imposed travel bans and asset freezes on two Houthi leaders, Abd al-Khaliq al-Huthi and Abdullah Yahya al Hakim, as well as former President Ali Abdullah Saleh for jeopardizing peace and stability in the country.
After the 2011 power transition, Yemen has seen an increase in terrorist activity, particularly by al-Qaeda fighters. The Houthis, the main opposition force in Yemen, have been carrying out protests in the country since mid-August, demanding the resignation of the Yemeni government. Houthi militias have taken over many Yemeni cities, including areas of the capital Sanaa. The fighters claim their actions are aimed at protecting civilians from terrorism.
