UNSC asks Houthis to step down in Yemen

United Nations, Feb 16 (IANS/EFE) The UN Security Council has asked the Shia Houthi rebels to step down in Yemen and enter negotiations with the rest of the political forces to find a solution to the crisis in the country and warned of "further steps" in case of a failure on their part to do so.

In a resolution unanimously approved Sunday, the highest decision-making body of the UN demanded that the Houthis "immediately and unconditionally" return to UN-led talks, withdraw from government institutions and release Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and other cabinet members from house arrest.

The document warns of "further steps" such as sanctions in case of failure by the rebels to comply.

The resolution, however, was not adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter which allows use of military force as requested by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

It was the first resolution adopted by the Security Council since the Houthi rebels effectively seized control of Yemen, dissolved the parliament and announced plans for a new interim presidential council Feb 6.

The document "deplores actions taken by Houthis" and calls on the rebels to adopt the roadmap drawn up by the GCC for a democratic transition in the country.

The council asked all parties, especially the Houthis, to cease all violence, while urging countries to refrain from any kind of interference in the conflict.

In November, the Security Council had clamped sanctions on former president Ali Abdullah Saleh and two Houthi rebel leaders for threatening the country's peace and security and impeding the political transition.

Last week, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned the Security Council that Yemen was "collapsing before our eyes", urging it to act.

The resolution was drawn up by Jordan and Britain and approved at Sunday's emergency meeting.

British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant told the council that the document conveyed a powerful message that "the Houthis must take responsibility for their actions and stop using violence and coercion as political tools".

According to Spain's Ambassador to the UN, Roman Oyarzun Marchesi, "an inclusive dialogue is the only solution possible" for the country.

He also spoke about the risk of groups such as Al Qaeda taking advantage of the instability in the country.

The resolution also spoke about the growing number of attacks by a branch of the group in the Arabian peninsula and warned of sanctions against anyone who had links with the terrorist groups.

During the last few days, the US, Spain, Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the European Union, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others, have closed their embassies in Yemen due to the deterioration of the political situation and security in the country.

--IANS/EFE

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