{The leader of Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen has said that the country is at a critical and defining moment. }
In a televised address, Abdel Malek al-Houthi accused President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and other leaders of putting their interests ahead of the Yemeni people.
Earlier, Houthi rebels shelled the president’s home in Sanaa and seized control of the presidential palace.
The UN Security Council condemned the attack and voiced support for Mr Hadi.
Yemen, a key US ally in the fight against al-Qaeda in the region, has been beset by unrest for months.
“What happened was that they [the political leadership] have sunk deep into corruption and tyranny,” Mr Houthi said.
Mr Houthi also accused the government of encouraging the spread of al-Qaeda in Yemen.
“They helped them to grow in all provinces and the president refused to order the army to wage war against them,” he said.
Houthi militias, who are seeking greater autonomy for their home province, overran the capital Sanaa in September after moving out of their northern stronghold.
However, the capital’s presidential buildings had remained outside their control.
President Hadi was reported to be inside his house when it was shelled but an official insisted he was safe.
Information Minister Nadia al-Sakkaf said on Twitter the president’s home had come under heavy shelling from armed forces positioned on rooftops nearby.
The ceasefire that broke down on Tuesday had been agreed just one day earlier after hours of fierce clashes in the city between the presidential guard and the rebels.
{{Source}}:{{ BBC}}
“The nation has started moving towards a tragic situation and complete collapse. The situation has worsened on all fronts – political, economic and security – on a large scale.”
Leave a Reply