Houthi leader calls for meeting to take 'historic' decisions

Leader of the Houthi rebels in Yemen Abdul-Malik Al-Houthi yesterday called for a meeting in Sanaa to “review the internal political and security situation” and to take “important, historic and exceptional” decisions.

In a televised speech broadcast on the group’s channel Al-Maseera, Al-Houthi said: “The resignation of the Yemeni president and the government was not a right measure. It was aimed at blackmailing and undermining the constitution and imposing a de facto situation.”

“The interest of Yemen is the peaceful transition of authority based on the ‘Peace and Partnership Agreement’ as the Yemenis will not accept any internal or external party to divide and breakdown the country.”

Al-Houthi hailed the latest armed action started with the kidnapping of director of the Yemeni president, then the attack on the Presidential Palace. “These were necessary steps to stop the conspiracy which aimed to divide the country,” he said.

Commenting on the situation in some of the Yemeni governorates, Al-Houthi said: “There are some provocative measures carried out in the south and in the east to erupt chaos.” He warned the collapse of Yemen would have “negative” repercussions on the whole region.

“We call for partnership,” he said, “and there is no justification for the internal powers to cause political and economic chaos.”

He noted that there are ongoing UN-sponsored discussions with political factions and “we hope they succeed”.