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UN chief calls for greater efforts to prevent Yemen from "collapsing"

Xinhua, February 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon warned Thursday that "Yemen is collapsing before our eyes," while urging the international community to "do everything possible" to help the country step back from the brink of anarchy.

"Let me be clear: Yemen is collapsing before our eyes. We cannot stand by and watch," Ban told the Security Council at a meeting, and warned that Yemen is facing "multiple challenges," which threaten regional and international peace and security.

Ban's briefing came after his visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where he discussed with the countries' leaders mainly on preventing civil war in Yemen.

All of them expressed serious concern that the situation "may get significantly worse" unless more determined and concerted actions are taken.

Security situation deteriorated in Yemen since January when the Shiite Houthi group seized the presidential palace in Sanaa, the national capital, after deadly clashes with presidential guards. President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah submitted resignations on Jan. 22.

On Feb. 6, the Houthi group announced a unilateral move to dissolve the parliament and form a presidential council to take over power, which was rejected by Yemen's political parties and denounced by the Gulf Arab states.

"Given these troubling circumstances," Ban said, "we must do everything possible to help Yemen step back from the brink and get the political process back on track."

While stressing the importance of helping the Yemeni people to reestablish a legitimate government authority as soon as possible, Ban called on all parties to refrain from any further provocation and implement the agreed roadmap on Yemen's transition "in full, and without any further delays."

Ban also urged them to engage in the UN-backed negotiations and cooperate in good faith.

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

On Monday, Yemen's political parties and Houthi group resumed talks under the mediation of UN envoy Jamal Benomar, aiming to find a solution to peacefully end the current crisis. Endite