UN hopeful of settling Yemen political crisis

Sanaa, Jan 27 (IANS/EFE) UN special envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar said Tuesday there was still a possibility of reaching an agreement between the Yemeni political parties to settle the current crisis.

Benomar said he was conducting continuous consultations with all political forces to sign an agreement to advance the political process, according to a statement issued by the UN envoy's office.

Benomar spoke on the stalemate in Yemen during a speech late Monday to the UN Security Council.

"(The UN envoy) met this morning bilaterally with the Houthi leadership, the president of the Islah party, and senior leaders of the General People's Congress. Mr. Benomar also remains in close touch with Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as Security Council members," the UN said in a briefing on its website.

The crisis, which has been tearing Yemen apart since September, worsened two weeks ago when the Shia Houthi rebel movement took control of the presidential headquarters in the capital Sanaa.

Due to the pressure, Yemeni President Abdo Rabu Mansour Hadi and his cabinet submitted their resignations Thursday.

The special UN envoy is leading negotiations among the different parties to find a solution to the crisis, although three major parties announced Sunday the suspension of their participation in the talks.

The Socialist Party, the Reform Party (the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood) and the Nasserist Organisation made the decision to protest the repression of opposition demonstrations against the Houthi movement.

The UN envoy called on all political parties in the country to cooperate in good faith, to serve the highest national interests of Yemen.

Hadi, Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, and seven ministers of the outgoing cabinet are in a situation similar to house arrest because their homes are surrounded by the Houthi fighters.

--IANS/EFE

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