Roundup: UN Security Council deplores Houthi takeover in Yemen

The UN Security Council

unanimously approved at an extraordinary Sunday emergency meeting a resolution "deploring the unilateral actions taken by the (rebel) Houthis to dissolve parliament and take over Yemen's government institutions."

It said takeover of the capital of Sana'a by Houthis and supporters "seriously escalated the situation ...undermined the political transition process in Yemen, and jeopardized the security, stability, sovereignty and unity of Yemen."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday warned "Yemen was collapsing before our eyes."

The Houthis, part of a Shia sect, and mainly active in northwestern Yemen, escalated the crisis on Jan. 20 when they attacked the presidential palace in Sana'a.

While demanding the Houthis "immediately and unconditionally engage in good faith, UN-brokered negotiations, withdraw their forces from government institutions, including the capital of Sana'a ... and refrain from unilateral actions that could undermine Yemen's political transition and security," the resolution did not call the Houthi's actions a coup d'etat.

"Expressing grave concern that the Houthis are holding Yemeni government officials, including President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, Prime Minister Khalid Bahah and members of the Cabinet, under house arrest," it demanded their immediate release.

It called for "implementation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism and the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue conference, including drafting a new constitution, electoral reform, the holding of a referendum on the draft constitution and timely general elections, to avoid further deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation in Yemen."

Liu Jieyi, China's permanent representative to the UN, who chaired the meeting, said the Security Council has unanimously adopted the resolution, reiterating its support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Yemen and explicitly requesting the parties concerned in Yemen to engage in consultations and dialogue for peaceful settlement of their differences.

Liu also said China calls on the parties concerning Yemen to bear in mind the fundamental interest of their nation and people, comprehensively implement all resolutions, accelerate their dialogue and negotiations and realize reconciliations as early as possible.

"China will continue to play an active role in maintaining the peace and stability of Yemen and advancing the political transition process," he added.

Ambassador Dina Kawar of Jordan, one of the prime sponsors, along with Britain, of the resolution and a member of the GCC, said the measure "reflects our keenness to restoring security and stability in Yemen as soon as possible. The developments of events in Yemen led to creating a massive political and security vacuum, and an accelerated deterioration in the situation."

"We are concerned that the continuation of this situation without the international community and the Security Council engagement will lead to an ominous outcome, not only on the local level in Yemen but in the entire region," she said.

"The unanimous adoption of the resolution by the Council today reflects the unity of the Council towards addressing the developments in Yemen, and conveys a significant message that should be taken seriously by all Yemen parties," the Amman envoy said.

"We have made clear that those who use violence and intimidation to try to dictate Yemen's future are undermining the security of all Yemeni citizens and eroding the political progress made since 2011," said British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant.

"The Houthis must take responsibility for their actions and stop using violence and coercion as political tools," he said, "They must ensure the immediate and safe release of President Hadi, Prime Minister Bahah and members of the Cabinet from house arrest."

"There can be no doubt that the principles underlying the GCC initiative, the National Dialogue and last September's Peace and National Partnership Agreement, are the only legitimate road map for Yemen's transition," the British envoy said, "All parties in Yemen, and especially the Houthis, need to pull back from the brink and implement these commitments, on a swift and inclusive basis."

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power called for a timetable for Yemenis to look to.

"The people of Yemen deserve a clear path back to the political transition process and a legitimate government based on these agreements and the resolutions of this Council, with a publicly-announced timeline and specific dates for the completion of a new constitution, a constitutional referendum, and national elections," she said.

"We continue to strongly support UN Special Adviser Jamal Benomar's efforts to mediate a consensus solution to this political crisis - a process vital to defusing tensions on the ground," she added. Enditem