Yemen parliament blocs boycott Houthi meeting

17/02/2015| IslamWeb

Most of the blocs in Yemen's parliament on Monday boycotted a meeting called for by the Shiite Houthi group.

"The meeting failed to materialize after it was boycotted by most parliamentary blocs in the House of Representatives," a parliamentary source, requesting anonymity, told The Anadolu Agency.

Last September, Yemen's Houthis emerged as a formidable political and military force after taking control of capital Sanaa before moving on to consolidate control over other parts of the country.

Earlier this month, the Houthi leadership issued a "constitutional declaration" dissolving parliament and establishing a 551-member "transitional council."

According to the declaration, pro-Houthi "revolutionary committees" will form a transitional council to replace the dissolved assembly.

On Sunday, the UN Security Council urged the Houthis to "immediately withdraw their forces" from all areas currently under their control, including Sanaa.

Fractious Yemen has remained in turmoil since autocratic President Ali Abdullah Saleh stepped down in 2012 following a months-long popular uprising against his 33-year rule.

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The United Nations Security Council on Sunday demanded Houthi militia in Yemen withdraw from government institutions, called for an end to foreign interference, and threatened "further steps" if the violence does not stop.

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