UN imposes arms embargo on Yemen's Houthi

A UN arms embargo on Houthi rebels in Yemen is the latest attempt to try to end weeks of fighting.

A dhow, which carried people fleeing the Yemen conflict

A dhow, which carried people fleeing the Yemen conflict Source: Getty Images

(Transcript from World News Radio)

 

A United Nations arms embargo on Houthi rebels in Yemen is the latest attempt to try to end weeks of fighting.

 

The rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, in September.

 

They now control most of Yemen and have been advancing toward the southern port of Aden.

 

A Saudi-led coalition is trying to drive them back with air strikes.

 

As Greg Dyett reports, there are fuel shortages and motorists are fed up with the long lines at the petrol stations.

 

(Click on audio tab to listen to this item)

 

There's bedlam on the streets of Sanaa with motorists forced to queue for hours at petrol stations.

 

"Look there are lines of cars like this at every petrol station and lines of people in shops. This is a human tragedy and the world must stand with us and provide Yemen with urgent aid."

 

The fighting between the Houthi rebels and government forces has led to fuel shortages in Yemen - just one of the consequences of the turmoil in the country.

 

The United Nations says the conflict has killed 600 people, left more than 2,000 injured and 100,000 people have been displaced.

 

A Saudi-led coalition has been using air strikes against the rebels to try to halt their advance towards the port city of Aden.

 

Now, the UN Security Council has imposed an arms embargo on the rebels.

 

It's calling for them to withdraw from areas they've seized, including the capital Sanaa.

 

Fourteen of the UN Security Council's 15 members voted in favour of the resolution.

 

Russia abstained saying the embargo should have been imposed on the whole country.

 

The Houthis are opposed to Yemen's President, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

 

Samantha Power is the US ambassador to the United Nations.

 

"The Houthis, working in close coordination with former president Al Abdullah Saleh, have intensified their military campaign, bombed Aden and extended their offensive to Yemen's south. These actions have caused widespread violence and instability that threaten the security and welfare of the Yemeni people as well and the region's security."

 

A spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, Brigadier Ahmed Asseri, says the arms embargo will help achieve peace.

 

"The resolution of United Nations is a victory for the Yemeni population, it is a victory for peace. It is complementary with the coalition operations. You know the political will and the diplomatic effort plus the military operation could make the stability and peace in Yemen."

 

Yemen's rebel Supreme Revolutionary Committee has described the UN resolution as an aggressive move and has called on Yemeni people to protest against the resolution.

 

 


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3 min read

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Updated

By Greg Dyett



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