Jordan proposes UN draft resolution to halt fighting in Yemen

Published April 8th, 2015 - 08:05 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Jordan circulated a draft UN Security Council resolution on Tuesday seeking to halt the fighting in Yemen, according to media reports.

The draft condemns the aggression by the Houthis, who have sought to expand its control in Yemen since its seizure of the capital, Sanaa, late last year, the New York Times said.

The daily said the resolution also calls for an arms embargo against several targeted individuals believed to be involved in Yemen's Shiite Houthi insurgency, including former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and Houthi tribal leaders, as well as those acting at their direction.

The draft has not been made public.

Saudi Arabia and several Arab allies have pounded positions held by the Shiite group since March 26.

Riyadh says the strikes are in response to appeals by Yemen's UN-backed President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi to "save the [Yemeni] people from the Houthi militias."

On Saturday, Russia also submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council calling for a "humanitarian pause" in the Saudi-led airstrikes to enable humanitarian access.

Many commentators believe the conflict in Yemen carries the undertones of a proxy war between Sunni Arab states and Iran, a predominantly Shiite country.

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