Yemeni defense minister resumes work in Aden

Iran Press TV

Sun Mar 8, 2015 7:29PM

Yemen's defense minister, who has fled the capital, Sana'a, to join President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in Aden, has resumed his duties in the southern Yemeni city.

General Mahmud Subaihi, who is originally from a village near Aden, reunited with the Western-backed president, on Sunday.

Hadi and his cabinet resigned in January amid deep differences with the Houthi Ansarullah fighters, who took control of Sana'a last September, but the Yemeni parliament did not approve the president's resignation.

Last month, the Houthi movement dissolved the parliament and announced a constitutional declaration on the Transitional National Council.

The constitutional declaration said the council will be set up to elect the presidential council in a bid to end the country's persisting political deadlock.

Hadi left his home in Sana'a on February 21 after weeks under effective house arrest and went to Aden, Yemen's second largest city, where he officially withdrew his resignation, saying he had acted under duress, and highlighted his intention to resume duties.

He also called on the Ansarullah revolutionaries to relinquish power and leave Sana'a. Houthis, however, said Hadi had lost his legitimacy as head of state and was being sought as a fugitive.

The Houthi movement played a key role in the 2011 popular uprising that forced former dictator, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to quit after 33 years in power.

The Ansarullah revolutionaries say the Yemeni government has been incapable of properly running the affairs of the country and providing security.

Aden was the capital of an independent South Yemen before its union with the north in 1990.

Aden is said to be largely in the hands of troops and militia loyal to the president.

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