Yemen discusses deal with rebels

The negotiator told Reuters news agency that the deal was signed by the capital Sanaa's governor, Abdelqader Helal and Hussein al Ozzi, who was representing the rebels.

However, according to the AFP news agency, rebels and the government reached an "understanding over an agreement" which would be finalized by UN envoy Jamal Benomar, who was scheduled to reach Yemen on Thursday. AFP also quoted a source as saying that Yemen's President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi promised to appoint a new premier within the next 48 hours.

This step would put an end to a standoff in which Hawthi protestors blocked the main road to Sanaa's airport and demanded that the government reinstate fuel subsidies. The demonstrations turned deadly earlier this week when at least four people were killed during a police operation on protest rallies.

US drone strikes

Yemen's rebels, also known as the Hawthis are Shiite Muslims and have been embroiled in conflict with the government since former president Ali Abdullah Saleh was ousted in 2012. The rebels have been trying to seize control of territories in the north. The Hawthi movement has further destabilized Yemen, which is home to al Qaeda's most active wings, the al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP).

Yemeni officials said on Thursday that their country had been put on high alert, following reports that al Qaeda members were streaming into the capital. Security officials are afraid that the extremists may take advantage of the unstable situation and seize control over government institutions.

On Thursday, a US drone attack killed four suspected members in Yemen's southern province, Shabwa. Yemen's stability is also of high importance to the US, because of its proximity to shipping lanes and to oil exporter Saudi Arabia.

mg/hc (AP, AFP, Reuters)