SANA’A: Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi named a top diplomat his new premier yesterday in his second bid this month to solve a political crisis with Shia rebels that sparked deadly unrest.
Hadi’s nomination of UN envoy Khalid Bahah (pictured), appeared to have the consent of Houthi rebels, who seized control of much of the capital Sana’a in a lightning offensive last month. The naming of a neutral prime minister is seen as a key step in convincing the rebels to withdraw from Sanaa, where their supporters were targeted in a devastating suicide bombing last Thursday that left 47 people dead. State news agency Saba said a team of advisers to Hadi, which includes rebel representatives, had approved the nomination. “After consultations over several nominees, all advisers nominated Khalid Mahfoudh Bahah,” it said.
A member of the rebels’ political arm, known as Ansarullah, confirmed the nomination had their consent. “We approved the naming of candidate Khalid Bahah as prime minister,” Ali Al Imad said.
Yemen has been wracked by political turmoil and sporadic violence since the 2012 toppling of strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh, with rebels and militants battling to exploit a power vacuum and seize control of territory.Since sweeping into the capital from their northern base on September 21, the Houthi rebels have established a strong presence, carrying out patrols and manning checkpoints.
Under a UN-sponsored ceasefire deal, they are to withdraw from Sanaa and disarm once a neutral prime minister is named.
A previous attempt to name a new premier collapsed last week under opposition from the rebels, with the candidate, Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, withdrawing within 24 hours of being nominated.AFP
