Yemen rebels release kidnapped presidential aide
January 27, 2015
The commander of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi urged all factions to work together to solve the political deadlock, less then an hour after Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak had been released. The kidnapping of the top aide of the president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi had raised the stakes in the deep and violent crisis which resulted in both president and the government resigning last week.
"We are seeking a peaceful transfer of power on the basis of partnership," the rebel leader al-Houthi said in a televised speech.
"Let everyone go towards cooperation instead of clashing, arguing and wrestling."
The Houthis opposed to a constitutional draft which bin Mubarak helped create, under which the areas traditionally under Houthi control would be divided between three federal regions.
Power vacuum
After the rebels had seized the presidential palace, shelled the president's residence and forced Hadi to resign, they appear to be the strongest power in Yemen. President Hadi accepted several demands of the Shiite militia on Wednesday, including a review of the constitution.
Still, Hadi's move has left a power vacuum in Yemen, and the parliament has in several instances postponed the session necessary to consider the resignation.
New clashes on the south
UN special envoy for Yemen Jamal Benomar is currently holding talks with representatives of political parties in order to find a way out of the crisis.
Benomar has stated that a power-sharing deal "was possible," according to two diplomats who attended a session during which he briefed the UN Security Council by video link from Sanaa. At the same time, he said that Hadi and the members of his cabinet were effectively under house arrest, and warned violence could erupt at any time.
Clashes have also been reported on Tuesday between a pro-government faction "Popular Committees" and the Houthi supporters in the city of Aden on Yemen's south. Moreover, the 57 members of the parliament from the south of the country stated they will boycott the 301 member parliament in protest of the Houthi "coup", ejilr Houthi representatives warned of "provocative acts by some southern forces that lead to chaos."
The UN envoy welcomed bin Mubarak's release, saying "this news would help reduce tensions and enable progress" in the negotiations.
dj/bw (dpa, AFP, Reuters)