Yemen’s president and PM ‘resign’ throwing nation deeper into chaos
Jan 22, – Yemeni leader Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi offered to resign on Thursday amid a standoff with a powerful Shiite militia in control of the capital, throwing his country deeper into political turmoil.
Presidential adviser Sultan al-Atwani and several other aides confirmed that Hadi had quit, but a senior official said Yemen’s parliament had rejected his resignation.
“Parliament… refused to accept the president’s resignation and decided to call an extraordinary session for Friday morning,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Yemeni Prime Minister Khalid Bahah also resigned, saying he did want to be part of the collapse of the country.
The shock announcements came after the militia, known as Huthis, tightened their grip on Sanaa this week after seizing almost full control of the capital in September.
They had maintained fighters around key buildings on Thursday and continued holding a top presidential aide they kidnapped on Saturday, despite a deal to end what authorities called a coup attempt.
The potential fall of Hadi’s Western-backed government will raise serious concerns of strategically important but impoverished Yemen collapsing into complete chaos.
After heavy fighting between government forces and the Huthis this week that killed at least 35 people, the UN Security Council and Yemen’s Gulf neighbours had all voiced support for Hadi’s continued rule.
The Huthis swept into Sanaa last year from their stronghold in the far north, demanding a greater say in the country’s affairs, and refused to abandon the capital despite a UN-negotiated deal.
The situation escalated on Saturday when the militiamen seized top presidential aide Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak in an apparent bid to extract changes to a draft constitution, which the Huthis oppose because it would divide Yemen into six federal regions.
The militiamen say it would split the country into rich and poor areas.
– ‘Pray to protect Yemen’ –
In the ensuing days pitched battles erupted, with the Huthis eventually seizing Hadi’s offices in the presidential palace, attacking his residence and surrounding the home of the prime minister Bahah.
In his letter of resignation, seen by AFP, Bahah said that from the time of his nomination in November and his confirmation by parliament in December he had tried to serve the country.
“But the situation has evolved in a different manner and we decided to stay away from unconstructive policies that do not respect the rule of law,” Bahah said.
Press journalist for HRO media – Khizer Hayat reports.
Category: Arab uprising
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