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| Yemen Government in Limbo Amid Uncertainty Over President’s Resignation | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| SANA, Yemen — The status of Yemen’s government remained unclear on Friday, one day after it collapsed in the face of a siege by opposition forces, with reports that Parliament might reject the president’s resignation when it meets on Sunday. | SANA, Yemen — The status of Yemen’s government remained unclear on Friday, one day after it collapsed in the face of a siege by opposition forces, with reports that Parliament might reject the president’s resignation when it meets on Sunday. |
| Houthi militiamen who have surrounded the presidential palace all week appeared to be consolidating their control, patrolling Sana, the capital, in pickup trucks. But the mood in the streets was calm, even after Friday Prayer, which often leads to violence in Yemen. | Houthi militiamen who have surrounded the presidential palace all week appeared to be consolidating their control, patrolling Sana, the capital, in pickup trucks. But the mood in the streets was calm, even after Friday Prayer, which often leads to violence in Yemen. |
| The militia leaders did not immediately make any official claim that they were moving to fill the power vacuum left by the resignation of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, although local news agencies reported that they were trying to form a presidential committee to govern the country. | The militia leaders did not immediately make any official claim that they were moving to fill the power vacuum left by the resignation of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, although local news agencies reported that they were trying to form a presidential committee to govern the country. |
| Mr. Hadi, along with his prime minister and cabinet members, stepped down suddenly on Thursday, saying they did not want to be a party to what Mr. Hadi’s supporters have called essentially a coup, after presidential guards were withdrawn and Mr. Haid was kept under what amounted to house arrest. | Mr. Hadi, along with his prime minister and cabinet members, stepped down suddenly on Thursday, saying they did not want to be a party to what Mr. Hadi’s supporters have called essentially a coup, after presidential guards were withdrawn and Mr. Haid was kept under what amounted to house arrest. |
| In Sana, residents seemed to adopt a resigned, wait-and-see attitude. | In Sana, residents seemed to adopt a resigned, wait-and-see attitude. |
| “We’ve tried Ali Abdullah Saleh,” said Fouad al-Daisi, the imam of a mosque, referring to the Yemeni president ousted in 2011. “We’ve tried President Hadi. Everyone else who ruled has failed miserably. Maybe we should try the Houthis.” | “We’ve tried Ali Abdullah Saleh,” said Fouad al-Daisi, the imam of a mosque, referring to the Yemeni president ousted in 2011. “We’ve tried President Hadi. Everyone else who ruled has failed miserably. Maybe we should try the Houthis.” |
| Mr. Daisi’s mosque was festooned in the green decorations of the Houthis, who are closely associated with Shiite Islam. | Mr. Daisi’s mosque was festooned in the green decorations of the Houthis, who are closely associated with Shiite Islam. |
| Fighting set off by the Houthi siege of the presidential palace this week, which made Mr. Hadi a virtual prisoner of the militants, claimed 18 lives and left 96 people wounded, Mohamed Naji, a Sana municipal official, was quoted as saying by Saba, the official news agency. | Fighting set off by the Houthi siege of the presidential palace this week, which made Mr. Hadi a virtual prisoner of the militants, claimed 18 lives and left 96 people wounded, Mohamed Naji, a Sana municipal official, was quoted as saying by Saba, the official news agency. |
| That fighting and a collapsed agreement to resolve differences between Mr. Hadi’s government and the Houthis led to the government’s fall. Mr. Hadi was believed to be in his personal residence, with private guards, but there was no confirmation of that on Friday. | That fighting and a collapsed agreement to resolve differences between Mr. Hadi’s government and the Houthis led to the government’s fall. Mr. Hadi was believed to be in his personal residence, with private guards, but there was no confirmation of that on Friday. |
| Saba announced that the Parliament would convene on Sunday. News agencies said Houthi fighters had also encircled the Parliament building, but fighters stationed there, who seemed unperturbed, said they had already been outside the empty building for several days. | Saba announced that the Parliament would convene on Sunday. News agencies said Houthi fighters had also encircled the Parliament building, but fighters stationed there, who seemed unperturbed, said they had already been outside the empty building for several days. |
| A statement from the Houthi militia said Mr. Hadi’s resignation needed to be approved by a parliamentary majority before it was valid. “As this has not happened, the resignation remains pending,” the statement said. | A statement from the Houthi militia said Mr. Hadi’s resignation needed to be approved by a parliamentary majority before it was valid. “As this has not happened, the resignation remains pending,” the statement said. |
| The statement may reflect the militants’ reluctance to assume complete power amid criticism of their actions by political leaders throughout the country, especially in the resource-rich east and south. | The statement may reflect the militants’ reluctance to assume complete power amid criticism of their actions by political leaders throughout the country, especially in the resource-rich east and south. |
| Some officials in southern Yemen warned of the risk of secession of those areas in response to a Houthi takeover. Until 1990, north and south Yemen were separate countries, and the Houthis, led by followers of the Zaydi sect of Shiite Islam, are based in northern Yemen. Two-thirds of Yemenis are Sunni Muslims. | Some officials in southern Yemen warned of the risk of secession of those areas in response to a Houthi takeover. Until 1990, north and south Yemen were separate countries, and the Houthis, led by followers of the Zaydi sect of Shiite Islam, are based in northern Yemen. Two-thirds of Yemenis are Sunni Muslims. |
| On Friday, a small protest was held at Change Square, the scene of huge demonstrations in 2011, during the Arab Spring uprisings, that helped topple the Saleh government. Demonstrators holding signs reading “No to Militias” and renouncing sectarianism. There was no violence, and only about 30 people attended. | On Friday, a small protest was held at Change Square, the scene of huge demonstrations in 2011, during the Arab Spring uprisings, that helped topple the Saleh government. Demonstrators holding signs reading “No to Militias” and renouncing sectarianism. There was no violence, and only about 30 people attended. |
| “Yemen has been living without a real functioning state for a very long time,” said Farida Al Breemi, 52, who was leading the chants. “But it’s holding itself together through the customs and decency of its people.” | “Yemen has been living without a real functioning state for a very long time,” said Farida Al Breemi, 52, who was leading the chants. “But it’s holding itself together through the customs and decency of its people.” |