US sanctions on Yemen rebel leader, ex-president's son

The US has imposed sanctions on a Houthi rebel leader in Yemen and a son of former Yemen president Ali Abdullah Saleh for his alleged role in supporting the rebels.

The US Department of Treasury slapped sanctions on Abdul Malik al-Houthi, whose Shia Houthi rebels have overrun much of Yemen in the past few months, including capital Sanaa, Xinhua reported on Tuesday.

It also targeted Ahmed Ali Saleh, son of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Ahmed Ali Saleh is the former head of Yemen's Republican Guard and "a key supporter" of the Houthis.

The department decided to freeze the assets of the pair under the US jurisdiction and bar Americans from doing business with them. The move came after the UN Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution on Tuesday hitting them with an asset freeze and a travel ban.

"Using violence and other means, al-Houthi and Saleh continue to undermine the political process in Yemen and obstruct the peaceful transition of power in Yemen, despite repeated calls from the international community that they desist from their destabilising actions," the US department stated.

The Obama administration has expedited the delivery of weapons in support of Saudi-led airstrikes on the rebels that started on March 26, on top of intelligence-sharing and daily aerial refuelling.

Washington stepped up efforts to help Yemen fight the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula after Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi assumed Yemen's presidency following Saleh's ouster in November 2011.

The US had to withdraw its diplomats and some 100 troops from the country last month in the face of the rebels' advances, which also forced Hadi into exile in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

Military units loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh and his son are accused of involvement in the rebels' offensives.