Armed Houthi members raise their guns during a rally protesting the air strikes carried out by a Saudi-led coalition, in Sana’a, Yemen, yesterday.
United Nations: Gulf countries are locked in tough negotiations with Russia on a UN draft resolution to impose an arms embargo and sanctions on Yemen, diplomats said yesterday.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states has been negotiating with the five permanent Security Council members and Jordan on a text after Saudi Arabia launched an air campaign on Yemen on March 26, without a UN mandate.
Its push for an international arms embargo and sanctions targeting the Houthis has run into major opposition from Russia, which has friendly relations with Iran. “The GCC will now need to lobby the Russians very, very hard,” said a Security Council diplomat.
During negotiations, Russia presented amendments to the draft resolution that would extend an arms embargo to all sides, including President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi’s forces in the conflict, diplomats said. AFP
