Yemeni prime minister's resignation letter

Below is the full text of Yemeni Prime Minister Khalid Mahfuz Abdullah Bahah resignation letter submitted yesterday, one day after the Houthis captured the presidential palace.

In the name of God Most Gracious Most Merciful

His Excellency President of the Republic Marshal Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, may Allah protect him

Peace and the mercy and blessings of God be upon you

Subject: Resignation

You know that we, in the government of technocrats, agreed to bear the responsibility of leading Yemen and developing it in very difficult and complex times. We came from various fields and scientific and social expertise in order to serve our country and contribute to establishing economic and social security and stability.

Despite the short period we spent in office since 7 November 2014 and since we won the confidence of parliament on 18 December 2014, we have been able to provide the people and the leadership with a real indication as to what we could offer to this homeland. However, it seems that things moved in another direction. For this reason we choose to save ourselves from being drawn into a non-constructive political labyrinth that is based on neither law nor order.

God is our witness that, in the government of technocrats, we have tried to the best of our abilities to serve this people and this homeland with all we have of strength, knowledge, competence, responsibility and sincerity. But when we realised that this was simply not possible we decided today to submit our resignation to the President of the Republic and to the Yemeni people so as not to be party to what is going on and what will happen afterwards. We bear no responsibility, whether before God or before the people, for what others are doing.

We extend our apologies to you, oh forbearing people of Yemen.

We pray to God to lead Yemen to safety.

Khalid Mahfuz Abdullah Bahah

The Prime Minister

The Republic of Yemen

22 January, 2015