Yemen's Houthis 'Close' To Reaching Deal With Govt

A leading member of Yemen's Shiite Houthi group said Friday that the group was close to reaching a political settlement with the government following a third meeting between the group's top leader and U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar.



"[The Houthis] are close to finalizing a deal, but there are still some contentious issues that have yet to be resolved," leading Houthi member Mohamed al-Bekheiti told Anadolu Agency.



Official Yemeni sources close to the talks said that Benomar, the U.N.'s special adviser on Yemen, had met with top group leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi before leaving Yemen's northern Saada province earlier Friday – his third meeting with al-Houthi within 72 hours.



The same sources said Benomar was also slated to meet President ABD Rabbuh Mansour Hadi.



On Thursday night, Houthi spokesman Mohamed Abdel-Salam said on Facebook that al-Houthi had told Benomar at a Wednesday meeting that "revolutionary activity will not stop."



The assertion comes amid ongoing deadlock between the group and the government in Sanaa.



Friday's meeting in Saada came amid deadly clashes in Sanaa between army troops and Houthi militants, ongoing since Thursday, which have left at least 60 people dead.



Houthis have been staging massive protests since mid-August to demand the dismissal of Prime Minister Mohamed Basindawa's government and the reversal of a recent government decision to slash fuel subsidies.



Demonstrations turned deadly earlier this month after protesters camped outside government buildings and blocked key roads in the capital.



President Hadi recently offered to sack the government, inviting the Houthis to take part in the formation of a unity government. He also offered to reduce fuel prices.



According to Hadi's proposal, however, the president would retain the right to directly appoint the ministers of "strategic" government portfolios (interior, defense and foreign affairs).



The Houthis, however, rejected Hadi's offer and vowed to escalate protests further.



Yemen has been dogged by unrest since a popular uprising that began in 2011 ousted longstanding president Ali Abdullah Saleh one year later.



By Mohamed al-Samei



englishnews@aa.com.tr                        



www.aa.com.tr/en - Sana