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Yemen's factions, Houthi agree to resume talks: UN envoy

Xinhua, February 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

Yemen's political parties and the Shiite Houthi group will resume talks on Monday to resolve the recent political crisis, UN envoy Jamal Benomar said Sunday night, one day after the main factions rejected Houthi's takeover of power.

"All political parties, including the Houthi group, have agreed to resume talks that will start tomorrow," Benomar said in a brief statement in the capital Sanaa.

The talks aim at finding a way to resolve the political crisis, Benomar said, after he directly contacted with Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi group, and major political parties.

The latest efforts were expected to help reach a consensus among political parties and the Houthi group to fill the power vacuum after the country's president and prime minister submitted resignations late last month.

On Friday, the Houthi group announced its unilateral move to dissolve the parliament and forming a presidential council to take over power from the presidency, which further deepens the chaos.

Houthi said the Supreme Revolutionary Committee led by its group leader will establish a transition national council comprised of 551 members to replace the parliament which is currently under control of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Then the national council will form a presidential council of five members to pick up the prime minister to run the country for a two-year transition period.

However, the Houthi's move was rejected by Yemen's major political parties and military officials in the southern regions.

Yemen's political parties have been holding consultations brokered by the UN envoy for more than two weeks, aiming to reach a consensus.

Meanwhile, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) released a statement on Saturday which rejected Houthis' takeover of Yemen and warned of steps to protect its members' interests.

In a meeting in Riyadh, the GCC said it will continue to stand with the Yemenis, warning that the Houthi group's move would end the peaceful political process in Yemen.

The Shiite Houthi group, also known as Ansarullah and based in the far northern province of Saada, has been expanding their influence southward after signing a UN-sponsored peace and power-sharing deal on Sept. 21, 2014 following week-long deadly clashes. Endit