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Yemen's ex-president leaves capital after weeks of house arrest

Xinhua, February 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Yemen's former President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi left his home in the capital Sanaa early on Saturday after weeks of house arrest imposed by the Shiite Houthi militants since late January when they seized control of the capital, officials said.

"Hadi is on his way to his home town in the southern port city of Aden," officials of the Southern Hirak movement told Xinhua.

Hadi took over power in 2012, but submitted resignation to the parliament on Jan. 22 amid standoff with the Houthi group.

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

Security situation deteriorated in Yemen since January when the Shiite Houthi group seized the presidential palace in Sanaa after deadly clashes with presidential guards, leading to the twin resignations of Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah.

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. Endit