By Mustafa Caglayan
NEW YORK
The UN Security Council voiced support for Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi's administration on Tuesday, condemning the recent wave of violence between presidential guards and Shia Houthi militants in the capital.
"The members of the Security Council expressed their grave concern about the worsening political and security crisis in Yemen," Council members said in joint a press statement after closed-door consultations.
Hadi "is the legitimate authority based on election results," they said, and urged all parties in Yemen to stand with him and his Cabinet "to keep the country on track to stability and security."
The Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa, in September 2014 and have since moved to extend their control to other provinces in Yemen, which has been suffering lawlessness since a popular uprising in 2011 ousted long-ruling President Ali Abdullah Saleh a year later.
Sanaa was rocked Tuesday by deadly clashes for a second consecutive day between Houthi militants and presidential guards, which left several people dead. The latest outbreak of violence occurred early Monday in Sanaa amid an apparent push by Houthi rebels to grab more power.
"The members of the Security Council condemned the recourse to violence in recent days, including the use of abduction, and urged all parties in Yemen to commit to the established processes of dialogue and consultation," the Council said.
Earlier Tuesday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon demanded the immediate release of Presidential Chief of Staff Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, who was kidnapped by Houthi rebels on Saturday.
The Council also "called upon all parties to implement a full and lasting cease-fire" and underscored the importance of full implementation of a UN-brokered settlement and national partnership agreement signed in September 2014.
