Yemen rebels agree to a truce with the government –
January 31, 2010 – 10:51 pm
rebels in northern Yemen have agreed to a cease-fire and accepted the Government, said in audioobraschenii rebel leader Abdel Malik al-Howes, broadcast on Saturday, TV channel Al-Arabiya.
Abdul-Malik al-Howes said that he agreed to the terms of the truce proposed by the Government to avoid civilian casualties, and urged the Government to cease military action against his followers – ” housitov “.
” In order to avoid civilian casualties we are taking all five points of agreement “, – said the leader of the rebels.
The armistice terms include the withdrawal fighters “housitov” from throughout the northern province of Saada, the unblocking of roads and the release of all hostages, kidnapped by the rebels. In addition, “housity” should return all seized property and to stop interfering in the affairs of local authorities.
This is not the first cease-fire agreement between housitami and the Government of Yemen, prior agreement Armistice often disrupted soon after the announcement of their achievement, writes RIA Novosti.
According to the UN, government and the rebel conflict in northern Yemen in the last five years forced to flee their homes more than 250 thousands of people.
All the rebels are mainly Muslims Zaidi wing and accused the government of the country in their discrimination, and require a formal recognition of their rights.
The government, in turn, accuse the rebels in that they seek in violation of the constitution to declare a theocratic state. In addition, according to authorities, the rebels are terrorizing the local population and sabotaging the work of regional authorities.
The government of Yemen believed that the rebels receive help from the Shiite organizations in Iran and Iraq.
Leading a multi-year struggle with the central Yemeni government “housity” become parties to the border conflict with Saudi Arabia at the end of last year. For a long time “housity” infiltrated into the neighboring Kingdom, creating a network of bases in the border areas, depots of arms and ammunition, which resulted in early November to armed clashes between Yemeni rebels with parts of the Saudi army.
On Wednesday, Deputy Defense Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid bin Sultan said the army forced the rebels to retreat to all Yemeni territory.
