UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – Members of the Security Council announced their decision in a joint statement issued on Tuesday, expressing particular concern over the "economic and humanitarian challenges in Yemen, including the ongoing violence, and threats arising from the illicit transfer, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of weapons".
The Council urged UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to continue to coordinate assistance from the international community in support of a peaceful transition in the country. The United Nations has promised to help Yemen in the process of adopting a draft constitution, conducting security sector and electoral reforms and holding general elections, as well as carrying out demobilization.
Houthis dissolved the Yemeni parliament in the capital Sanaa and created a presidential council in a "constitutional declaration" on February 6. Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and the country's government resigned in January after the Houthis captured the presidential palace and government buildings.
The Houthis, the main opposition force in Yemen, started staging massive protests against the Yemeni government last year, demanding the resignation of the president and several officials. Houthi militias have taken over many Yemeni cities, claiming their actions are aimed at protecting civilians from terrorism and discrimination by the government.
The United Nations has been advocating a peaceful political settlement in Yemen, using diplomatic tools to bring the conflicting sides to the negotiating table.
In November of last year, the UN Security Council approved sanctions against Yemen's former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and two Houthi commanders, subjecting them to asset freezes and travel bans.
