Yemen facing 'counter-revolution' says Nobel laureate

ISTANBUL

An uprising by Yemeni Houthi militants is a "counter-revolution" against the overthrow of former ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Yemeni Nobel Peace Prize Laureate has told the Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview. 

Speaking on Wednesday, Tawakkol Karman -- a journalist and human rights activist -- said: "This coup d’etat aims to stall Yemenis’ dreams and sabotage the 2011 revolution."

Karman became the face of the uprising, part of the Arab Spring, which overthrew Saleh, who had ruled the country for more than 30 years. 

Accusing Iranian’s spiritual leader Ali Hamaney and Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Shiite Muslim group of staging the revolt, Karman added: "The Yemeni people are larger than all of them. The people will reject this Iranian project and defeat these plans."

Some Arab capitals also have alleged that the Houthi insurgency is being funded by Shiite Iran.

The Houthis, who accuse President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi of corruption, seized control of Sanaa in September 2014 and since then have moved to extend their control to other provinces.

Karman conceded that Hadi made mistakes in the transition period, including being slow to suppress the armed uprising and tackle corruption, yet added that a new constitution should be prepared and fresh elections should be held under Hadi’s watch.

Supporters of the Shiite group seized the presidential palace in Sanaa on Tuesday. Following this attack, the Yemeni presidency vowed Wednesday to amend the constitution and increase the number of seats in the Upper House within one week in order to meet the armed groups’ demand.

The leader of the rebels called for the amendment of a draft constitution, implementation of a peace and partnership agreement and comprehensive reform of the nation's security apparatus.

Yemen has remained in a state of relative lawlessness since the 2011 popular uprising which forced autocratic ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down a year later.

Tawakkol Karman received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.