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Yemen rebels shut parliament as forces close grip on leadership Yemen rebels shut parliament as forces close grip on leadership
(35 minutes later)
SANAA, Yemen — Shiite insurgents staked full control over Yemen’s leadership Friday, announcing the disbanding of Parliament and plans to form a transitional authority to run the conflict-wracked country that hosts a powerful al-Qaeda affiliate. SANAA, Yemen — Shiite insurgents moved to consolidate full control over Yemen’s leadership Friday, announcing the disbanding of parliament and plans to form a transitional authority to run the conflict-wracked country that hosts a powerful al-Qaeda affiliate.
The sweeping moves follow clashes by the Houthi rebels last month that forced the resignation of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his government, which had been a key ally in supporting U.S. drone strikes against the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. The sweeping moves follow an offensive by the Houthi rebels last month that forced the resignation of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his government, which had been a key ally in supporting U.S. drone strikes against the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The televised statement casts further uncertainty over the country’s cooperation with Washington in counterterrorism operations, including a drone program that is highly unpopular among Yemenis and has continued during the latest unrest.The televised statement casts further uncertainty over the country’s cooperation with Washington in counterterrorism operations, including a drone program that is highly unpopular among Yemenis and has continued during the latest unrest.
The Houthis oppose al-Qaeda as a rival faction, but also denounce the drone strikes as a violation of Yemen’s sovereignty.The Houthis oppose al-Qaeda as a rival faction, but also denounce the drone strikes as a violation of Yemen’s sovereignty.
Further steps by the rebels to consolidate power also will likely sound alarm bells in neighboring Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, which view the Houthis as proxies for Shiite -led Iran. The Houthis deny that charge, arguing that they are a national Yemeni movement. The rebels — who follow the Zaydi offshoot of Shiite Islam — have clashed with AQAP after storming into the capital Sanaa in September and gradually pushing south. On Thursday, AQAP announced that one of its top leaders, Harith al-Nadhari, was killed in a drone strike last month.
In the televised address, the rebels announced the dissolution of Parliament and its replacement by a soon-to-be-appointed 551-member transitional council that would run the country for two years. Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch is considered one of the most active cells of the terror network, and has claimed responsibility for a role in several high-profile attacks or plots. Last month, the group claimed it helped fund and plan the attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, which began days of violence in Paris.
That council would elect a five-member presidential body and pave the way for future parliamentary and presidential elections, it said. Further steps by the rebels to consolidate power also will likely sound alarm bells in neighboring Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, which view the Houthis as proxies for Shiite -led Iran.
Some immediately rejected the Houthi announcement, signally further discord in the Arab world’s most impoverished nation. The Houthis deny that charge, arguing that they are a national Yemeni movement. Last month, they trapped Yemen’s president and other government officials in their homes.
“This announcement is baseless and represents only one side. It does not speak for Yemen and it is not legislative or is it legal,” said Ahmed Mohammed Othman, a prominent political figure in the city of Taiz, where anti-Houthi sentiment has been rising. In the televised address, the rebels announced the dissolution of parliament and its replacement by a soon-to-be-appointed 551-member transitional council that would run the country for two years.
The process of forming the transitional authority appears to be entirely overseen by the Houthis rebels, who stormed the capital Sanaa in September in a lightning advance that has continued southward. That council would elect a five-member presidential body and pave the way for future parliamentary and presidential elections, the rebels said.
The rebel group’s self-declared Revolutionary Committee would assume the responsibility of selecting members of the transitional council. That committee, which is the intelligence arm of the Houthi movement, is run by a family member of the group’s leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi. Some immediately rejected the Houthi announcement, signaling further discord in the Arab world’s most impoverished nation.
“This announcement is baseless and represents only one side. It does not speak for Yemen, and it is not legislative nor is it legal,” said Ahmed Mohammed Othman, a prominent political figure in the city of Taiz, where anti-Houthi sentiment has been rising.
The process of forming the transitional authority appears to be entirely overseen by the Houthi rebels.
The group’s self-declared Revolutionary Committee would assume the responsibility of selecting members of the transitional council. That committee, which is the intelligence arm of the Houthi movement, is run by a family member of the group’s leader, Abdulmalek al-Houthi.
Mohammed Albukhaiti, a member of the Houthi politburo, called the group’s decision “a clear message to the international community not to interfere in Yemen’s internal affairs, and I believe that it’s our sovereign right.”
Speaking by telephone, he cited unspecified groups who were threatening Yemen with “chaos.” Because of that threat, the rebels were forced to dissolve parliament and form a transitional government, he claimed.
Friday’s announcement was delivered at the Presidential Palace in Sanaa and appeared to be accepted by apparent rivals, including the former defense and interior ministers, who were in attendance.Friday’s announcement was delivered at the Presidential Palace in Sanaa and appeared to be accepted by apparent rivals, including the former defense and interior ministers, who were in attendance.
The Houthis had set Wednesday as the deadline for negotiations held by a number of political factions to form a transitional government, but that collaborative effort appears to have been overruled by the rebel group.
Naylor reported from Beirut.Naylor reported from Beirut.