China calls on Yemen's Houthis to implement UN resolution

China on Monday called on Yemen's Shiite Houthi group to implement the United Nations Security Council resolution adopted on Sunday which urged them to engage in UN-brokered negotiations and withdraw forces from government institutions.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing that China has paid close attention to the recent political and security situation in Yemen.

"We hope parties concerned in Yemen can implement the UN Security Council resolution and continue to maintain dialogue and solve disputes through negotiations to push forward the political transition process and restore national stability and order at an early date," she said.

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

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

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