UN slaps sanctions on Yemen Houthis, Russia abstains
Tue Apr 14, 2015 4:24PM
The United Nations Security Council votes during a meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York, March 4, 2015. © AFP
The UN Security Council has passed a resolution targeting the Houthi Ansarullah movement in Yemen, amid ongoing deadly airstrikes on the nation by Saudi Arabia.
The council’s imposed sanctions include an arms embargo, asset freezes and travel ban against Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the movement, Yemen’s former dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and his son Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The resolution also calls for an immediate ceasefire, access to humanitarian aid to the airstrike victims and ensuring the safety of civilians.
The resolution, drawn up by Jordan and Arab states of the Persian Gulf, was adopted with 14 positive votes while Russia abstained.
The new development came as Yemen’s Popular Committees, consisting of Ansarullah fighters and army forces, have made more gains in its fight against al-Qaeda-linked militants in Yemen, despite the ongoing Saudi attacks.
Colonel Sharaf Luqman, the spokesman for Yemen’s armed forces and Popular Committees, said Monday that Saudi Arabia is a supporter of terrorism and has been targeting the Yemeni civilians and the nation’s infrastructure by its aggression.
The spokesman added that the Saudi airstrikes have killed nearly 2,600 people.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen has become critical with many international aid organizations seeking a safe passage into the country to send much needed medical and humanitarian supplies to the suffering nation.
Saudi Arabia started its deadly attacks on Yemen on March 26, without a UN mandate, in a bid to restore power to the fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, a close ally of Riyadh.
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