Date: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 00:04:33 +0200
Yemen rivals sign peace agreement
Houthi leaders and Yemen president agree UN-brokered deal as rebels take
over government buildings in Sanaa.
Last updated: 21 Sep 2014 21:15
A UN-brokered peace deal between Houthi rebels and Yemen's government has
been signed while the Houthis have taken control of government buildings and
a state radio and TV station in the capital, Sanaa.
Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall, reporting from Sanaa, said Sunday's deal called
for the current government to rule in a caretaker role until a new
administration is formed next month
He said the most important point is a ceasefire but the deal was "still
short on details".
Yemen's president Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi urged all sides to abide by the
deal.
Journalist <https://twitter.com/altoflacoblanco> Peter Salisbury said the
agreement aimed to get the Houthis to leave the capital. However a section
which was not signed by the Houthis stipulated that they were to withdraw
from Sanaa, Jawf and Amran within 45 days.
"The fighting didn't stop because of the deal, but because the Houthis had
achieved their military aims in Sanaa."
He said clashes were ongoing in other parts of the country, including Maarib
to east of the capital.
Key points in UN-brokered agreement
. President to announce new government within a month.
. All the parties recognise the state's sovereignty over the whole
territory.
. Houthis to end protests and dismantle camps in Sanaa.
. Cut fuel prices
. Government to set up committee to oversee security issues in Amran,
Jawf, Maarib, and Sanaa.
. New consensus constitution to be drafted.
. Political representation will be granted to all political parties.
. New committee reform economy - combatting corruption.
. President appoints ministers of finance, defence, interior, and
foreign affairs.
. President to appoint two advisors - a Houthi and one from the south
- and also the new PM.
On Sunday the rebels took over government buildings in the capital including
the defence ministry, the army headquarters, the parliament building, the
central bank and the national radio station.
Our correspondent Mohamed Vall said that most were taken over without
fighting, which he referred to as a "capitulation of sorts" by the army.
He added that soldiers from the army had been seen changing into civilian
clothes to avoid being "arrested by the Houthis".
PM resigns
Journalist <https://twitter.com/ionacraig> Iona Craig, also in Sanaa,
reported later in the day that fighting had stopped while politicians
gathered in southern Sanaa.
"Some people are claiming this is a coup, and others are saying [Houthis]
have legitimate demands ... but they have gone further than anybody really
anticipated. They are Yemen's strongest fighting force and they've beaten
the army several times.
"They've said this afternoon that they want to try to protect government
buildings within the city, which to many people would seem like a coup
attempt and it's going to be interesting how it unfolds over the rest of the
night."
Earlier on Sunday, Mohammed Salem Basindwa tendered his resignation as prime
minister and criticised the president's performance in this crisis and for
not participating fully in the national dialogue process.
Curfew in place
On Saturday, the state TV headquarters in Sanaa was captured by the Shia
rebels after coming under heavy shelling, while the country's Supreme
Security Commission, chaired by the president, ordered a curfew in four
areas north and west of the capital between 9pm and 6am.
More than 100 people have died in fighting since Thursday, sparked by weeks
of protests and clashes. It also prompted the suspension of international
flights to Sanaa and the interruption of broadcasts by state television.
Thousands of Houthis have staged more than a month of protests in Sanaa,
besieging ministries and blocking the road to the main airport.
The Houthis are a Zaidi Shia group whose traditional power base is in the
north. Their leaders want
<http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/yemen-houthis-hadi-protest
s-201482132719818986.html> a new government and more political power.
The government's plans for a six-region federation has been rejected by the
Houthis and the southern separatists.
http://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2014/9/21/2014921144847718734_20.jpg
Fighting between Houthi rebels and government troops in Sanaa entered a
fourth day on Sunday [Reuters]
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