Gulf | Yemen
War is over, Al Houthi says in letter to president
The rebel leader Abdul Malek Al Houthi is no longer at war with the government and is meeting all peace conditions set by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, it was reported in a local newspaper.
- By Nasser Arrabyee, Correspondent
- Published: 23:59 August 7, 2008
Sana'a: The rebel leader Abdul Malek Al Houthi is no longer at war with the government and is meeting all peace conditions set by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, it was reported in a local newspaper.
Al Houthi said in a letter addressed to President Saleh and published by the state-run media yesterday he was meeting all conditions to end the war and bring peace to the northern province of Sa'ada.
"We are fully committed to preserving security, peace and stability in the governorate," he said in the letter.
On July 17, 2008, President Saleh unilaterally announced that the four-year-long war had ended.
"We will return the favour with favour and justice with justice, and we care very much about the interest of the homeland and the safety of our citizens. We are part of this nation, we have the same rights other citizens have and the same duties others have," Al Houthi's letter said.
In the letter, Al Houthi asked President Saleh to rein in some officials and tribal leaders who "do not want the war to stop".
No rebel leader is required to leave the country, according to the letter.
A Qatari-brokered deal from 2007, revived in February, did require the rebel leaders to leave Yemen in one of its ten conditions.
According to Al Houthi's letter, the conditions include a ceasefire, reopening roads and removing all mines or detonating them and handing them in to the state, returning from mountain bases and evacuating farms and houses, ending armed provocations in all districts of Sa'ada, handing over heavy and medium-sized weapons to the state and the return of displaced citizens.
Further conditions are that Al Houthi supporters who went to Sa'ada from other areas should return to their areas, handing over hostages to local authorities, returning stolen and plundered goods to the authority and security forces, and that the state should apply law and order.
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