Cairo, Apr. 7, (dpa/GNA) - Yemen’s President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi has ceded power to a new leadership council that will negotiate a political solution to end the country’s years-long conflict.
Hadi created an “irrevocable” mandate for the council to take over all his powers, according to a presidential declaration carried by the Yemeni state news agency Saba reported Thursday.
The council will take over his political, military and security responsibilities during an unspecified transitional period.
It will also negotiate with Yemen’s Houthi rebels for a permanent nationwide ceasefire and a “final and comprehensive” political solution.
Yemen has been locked in a devastating conflict between a Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned Houthis since late 2014.
The new council will be led by Rashad al-Alimi, an ex-interior minister, and comprises seven members with each serving as deputy head.
Hadi, who has served as Yemen’s president since 2012, has also relieved his deputy Ali Mohssen al-Ahmar of his post.
On Thursday, Saudi Arabia said it welcomed Hadi’s power transfer and voiced full backing to the leadership council.
The oil-rich monarchy also pledged 3 billion dollars in urgent aid to Yemen, including 2 billion to be offered along with the United Arab Emirates, the official Saudi news agency SPA reported.
The steps come days after a two-month truce, brokered by the United Nations and agreed by Yemen’s warring parties, went into effect on Saturday when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan began.
Saudi Arabia and its allies have been fighting alongside the government in Yemen against the Houthis since March 2015, months after the rebels seized parts of the country including the capital Sana’a.
GNA