UN Chief Urges Immediate End to All Hostilities in Yemen

United Nations (PNA/Xinhua) — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday called on all sides in Yemen to immediately cease all hostilities after situation deteriorated in the country.

Ban deplored the heavy fighting between Houthi armed groups and Yemeni presidential guards throughout Sanaa, said a statement issued here by his spokesperson.

“The Secretary-General calls on all sides to immediately cease all hostilities, exercise maximum restraint, and take the necessary steps to restore full authority to the legitimate government institutions,” the statement said.

The Shiite Houthi group seized the presidential palace on Tuesday, a day after it signed a ceasefire deal with the Yemeni government that ended deadly clashes.

Monday’s clashes were triggered by the kidnapping of the director of the president office, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, by the Houthis, in a wrangle over the country’s draft constitution.

In the statement, Ban condemned the kidnapping and called for the immediate release of bin Mubarak.

“All sides must abide by their stated commitments to resolve differences through peaceful means,” the statement said, adding that Ban also reminded all sides of their obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is holding consultations on Yemen with Special Adviser of the Secretary-General Jamal Benomar briefing from Doha via video tele-conference on the latest situation. (PNA/Xinhua) FPV/JSD