Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


         Former Yemeni President Flees Capital After Rebels Let Him Go

   by VOA News

   Aides to former Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi say he has
   left the capital, Sana'a, after Shi'ite rebels let him go following
   weeks of house arrest.

   The aides told Western media Saturday that Hadi was headed to the
   southern city of Aden, his home town.

   The former president has been under house arrest after being detained
   last month along with his ministers when Shi'ite Houthi rebels toppled
   Yemen's government.

   The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution earlier this past week
   demanding the Houthis restore the Sana'a government and Mr. Hadi, who
   is backed by the United States.

   Yemen has been mired in political turmoil since Houthi rebels seized
   Sana'a in September.

   On Friday, the U.N. envoy to Yemen said rival political parties,
   including the Shi'ite rebels that seized power in the majority Sunni
   country, are getting closer to reaching a deal that could prevent the
   country from sliding into civil war.

   "We took a very important step this morning toward reaching a political
   deal to end the current crisis," said Jamal Benomar Friday in a
   statement posted to his Facebook page.

   "Parties to the talks have agreed on an interim legislative body that
   guarantees the participation of all political elements not represented
   in the current lower house of parliament," he said. "According to the
   deal, the lower house will retain its current form, and a congress
   called the People's Transitional Congress will be formed."

   Mohammed Albasha, a spokesman for the Yemeni embassy in the United
   States, told VOA following the announcement that the agreement to
   replace the current upper house of lawmakers with the new transitional
   council is a move in the right direction.

   U.N. envoy Benomar said issues that remain unresolved include the
   status of the presidency.

   The recent U.N. resolution stops short of sanctions or direct
   intervention, and would require new Security Council action for any
   eventual penalties to be applied.

   There was no immediate rebel response to the U.N. move.  But Houthi
   leaders have said they will not cede power in what they describe as
   "the face of threats."

   Since seizing power in January, rebels have dissolved parliament and
   set up their own ruling body.  They say they are carrying out a
   "revolution" against corrupt officials and economic ruin.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/yemen/2653070.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/yemen/2653070.html