Jordan urges enforcing UN resolution on Houthis’ withdrawal in Yemen

Amman, Jan 28 (IANS) Jordan called on Wednesday for implementing the UN resolution no. 2216 on Yemen, which demands that the Iran-backed Shiite Houthis withdraw from all areas seized during the ongoing conflict in the country, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

"The enforcement of the resolution is important to restore stability in Yemen, ensure the country’s unity and prevent the spread of any terrorist groups," Jordanian Foreign Minister Nassr Judeh said at a meeting with the UN secretary general’s Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Xinhua reported.

The UN resolution also calls on the Houthis to relinquish arms seized from military and security institutions, stop intervening in the powers of the legitimate government of Yemen.

It demands that the group refrain from any provocations or threats to neighboring states, release the defense minister, political prisoners and citizens under house arrest or arbitrarily detained and stop recruiting children.

The resolution also imposes sanctions, including a general asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo on Abdulmalik al-Houthi, who it called the Houthi leader, and Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh, son of the president who stepped down in 2011.

During the meeting, the top Jordanian diplomat reiterated Amman’ s support for efforts exerted by the UN to restore stability and security in Yemen.

He shed light on the security and humanitarian conditions in Yemen.

The impoverished Arab country was plunged into violence in September 2014, when the Shiite Houthi group seized the country’s capital Sanaa, driving Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi into exile.

The conflict soon turned into an all-out civil war between pro- government forces and Houthi rebels backed by troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, followed by the intervention of a Saudi-led Arab coalition vowing to restore the legitimate government of President Hadi.

The year-long conflict between various Yemeni warring factions has killed thousands of people and displaced 2.5 million.