(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The leader of Yemen's Shia militia, who seized the presidential palace on Tuesday, has warned that "all options are open" in their action against the authority of President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.
"All options are open in this action. We will take any measure to protect the peace and partnership agreement," signed after the northern militia overran Sanaa in September, Abdul Malik Al Houthi said.
"No one, the president or anyone else, will be above our measures if they stand to implement a conspiracy against this country," he warned in a televised statement.
He said the Houthi militia men are ready to face "any measures" by the UN Security Council.
"I advise the UN Security Council... (that) you will not benefit from any measures you wish to take" against the Houthis," he said.
"We are ready to face the consequences, regardless of what they are."
Earlier, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the latest clashes between Houthi fighters and the presidential guards in Sanaa and called for an end to the hostilities and immediate restoration of order.
Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that UN special envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar, who was in Qatar, is on his way back to Yemen.
"The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation in Yemen," the UN Press office said in a statement. "He deplores the heavy fighting between Ansarallah (Houthi) armed groups and Yemeni presidential guards throughout Sanaa."
The United Nations Security Council held a special meeting on the situation in Yemen. A diplomat at the closed-door session said on condition of anonymity that Benomar told the 15-nation body by video link that only the presidential guards were fighting and the Houthis had persuaded other military units not to fight them.
Another diplomat at the meeting confirmed Benomar's remarks.
Without giving details, Benomar said in Arabic on Twitter and Facebook that some media had cited incorrect information about his Security Council briefing.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.