UNITED
NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council stepped up efforts Tuesday to
thwart a Houthi rebel takeover of Yemen, imposing an arms embargo on the
leaders of the Shiite group, along with former President Ali Abdullah
Saleh and his son.
Yemen,
the Arab world's poorest country, has been pushed to the brink of
collapse by ground fighting and Saudi-led airstrikes in support of
current President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who was forced to flee to
Saudi Arabia. Observers say the fighting in the strategic Mideast nation
is taking on the appearance of a proxy war between Iran, the Shiite
powerhouse backing the Houthis, and Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia.
The
arms embargo was approved in a 14-0 vote, with Russia abstaining.
Moscow had insisted on an arms embargo on all parties to the conflict.
The
resolution imposes the weapons embargo on five men: Houthi leader
Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, second-in-command Abdullah Yahya al Hakim,
military commander Abd al-Khaliq al-Huthi, Saleh and his eldest son,
Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh. The former president and his son are key
supporters of the Houthi group.
The
council called on all countries, especially Yemen's neighbors, to
inspect cargo headed to Yemen if there are "reasonable grounds" to
believe it contains weapons.
In
addition, the council imposed an asset freeze and travel ban on the
Houthi leader and Saleh's son. The same sanctions had already been
imposed on the other three men last November.
Britain's
U.N. Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant said the Houthis ignored a council
resolution in February that had warned of further measures if they
failed to cease their aggression.
Lyall
Grant stressed that a political solution is the only solution and the
best way to counter the threat from terrorist groups in Yemen such as
al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, considered by the U.S. to be the
world's most dangerous branch of the terror network.
U.S.
Ambassador Samantha Power said the new sanctions show "that this
council will take action against those who continue to undermine efforts
toward reconciliation."
The
resolution demands that all Yemeni parties, especially the Houthis, end
violence and return swiftly to U.N.-led peace talks aimed at a
political transition. It makes no mention of the Saudi-led airstrikes.
Russia's
U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin complained that the resolution did not
require all sides to the conflict "to swiftly halt fire." And he said a
comprehensive arms embargo is essential, stressing that "Yemen is awash
in weapons."
Several
diplomats questioned whether the arms embargo would have any impact on
the conflict. Iran has reportedly been the main supplier of weapons to
the Houthis, the diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity
because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The
resolution demands that the Houthis withdraw from areas they have
seized, including the capital of Sanaa, relinquish arms and missiles
seized from military and security institutions, and release the defense
minister and all political prisoners.
The
council asked U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to intensify efforts
to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate foreigners, including
establishing "humanitarian pauses" in coordination with the government
of Yemen. It called on all parties to facilitate the aid delivery and
evacuation of foreigners.
Churkin complained that the resolution didn't meet Russia's demand for "regular and obligatory" humanitarian pauses.
The council threatened further sanctions if any Yemeni party fails to implement the provisions of the resolution.
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