UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — The UN Security Council unanimously agreed Sunday to a resolution demanding that the Houthi rebels withdraw from Yemen's capital Sanaa, rejoin UN-facilitated talks and release Yemen's former leaders from house arrest.
The Security Council's resolution, adopted by a 15-0 vote, "demands that the Houthis immediately and unconditionally engage in good faith in the UN-brokered negotiations; withdraw their forces from government institutions, including in the capital Sanaa, and normalize the security situation in the capital and other provinces, and relinquish government and security institutions." The document also calls for the rapid release of President Hadi, Prime Minister Bahah, members of the Cabinet "and all individuals under house arrest or arbitrarily detained."
Threatening further sanctions on Sunday, the Security Council in its resolution "declares its readiness to take further steps in case of non-implementation by any Yemeni party of this resolution."
Beyond the Houthis, in their resolution Sunday the Security Council said they were also "condemning the growing number of attacks carried out or sponsored by Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula" and stressed the organization's readiness to sanction "individuals, groups, undertakings and entities who do not cut off all ties to Al-Qaida and associated groups."
Emphasizing that the Security Council will continue to consider Yemen, at least every two months, the resolution on Sunday requested the Secretary-General to report on the its implementation.
Power in Yemen is currently in the hands of the Ansar Allah Houthi rebel group. On February, 6 Houthis dissolved the Yemeni parliament and created a presidential council in a "constitutional declaration."
On Thursday UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council that Yemen is "collapsing before our eyes."
