Sana’a: Yemeni political forces who oppose the Shia militia that has seized control of Sana’a formed an alliance against it yesterday, saying they want to restore state authority and rebuild weakened security forces.
The newly formed National Salvation Bloc groups Sunni Muslim and secular parties, as well youth groups, tribal alliances and members of the Southern Movement, which seeks greater autonomy for the formerly independent south.
It also includes dissident southern members of the General People’s Congress, the party of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is suspected of backing the Houthis. It aims to restore state authority and “prevent the collapse of the army and security forces and rebuild them,” said a statement after a meeting in Sana’a. And it criticised “illegitimate” measures taken by the Houthis and rejected the state being controlled by militias.
The bloc includes such major political parties as Muslim Brotherhood-linked Al Islah, hardline Sunni Islamist Al Rashad and the Nasserist Unionist People’s party.
Meanwhile, Houthi gunmen attacked the Sana’a office of local human rights advocacy group Siraj Development, said a Siraj official. Najla Al Zamari said they destroyed computers and accused staff of “collaborating with foreign countries, of “immoral activity” and allowing men and women to mix.
AFP
