‘Yemeni rebels playing out a boring chess game’

It seems that Al Houthi rebels and Ali Abdullah Saleh’s forces were happy to be described as ‘rebels’, so much so that they have become rebels in their temperament as well, said the UAE’s Al Bayan.

“They have now rebelled against the terms that were previously agreed upon, bringing the negotiations back to square one. They are now refusing the agenda of negotiations that they consented to and are refusing to cooperate with committees that were set up to facilitate negotiations. The rebels do not want to come back to the negotiation tables or submit to the legitimate government and international resolutions. Legitimacy will be restored to Yemen, the rebels will be left empty-handed and Iran’s plans will fail and it will lose the opportunity to impose its influence in Yemen,” the paper said.

The Yemeni rebels are playing out a very boring chess game when it comes to talks in Kuwait, said Saudi Arabia’s Al Yaum. “Such absurd behaviour does nothing for their cause and only prolongs the military conflict. Through the Saudi stance that is pushing hard towards a truce, the conduct of the rebels will only result in them losing any opportunity they have to share any power in ruling Yemen once the conflict is over. The Yemeni people, who have accepted holding negotiations with the rebels through their legitimate government, will not be patient any longer with Al Houthis at the expense of their country’s security and sovereignty. Unless the rebels show some goodwill for the talks, they will be expelled like thugs. The rebels have to ask themselves: What is it that they really want from the Kuwaiti talks?”

Lebanon polls

As Lebanon went to the polls, Lebanon’s Daily Star said there were many victories in the elections, the most glaring of which was the exercise’s wholehearted success, beyond expectations. “The results have shown not only the will of the people, but also the success of the multitude of candidates that represent a fresh generation now taking the reins of development in villages, towns and cities across the country. Most significant are the victories of the ‘Beirutis’ List’, whose campaign and success confirmed the desire to maintain coexistence among all sects and political affiliations in Beirut, as well as the fine performance of newcomers Beirut Madinati. However, now is the real test. Each list carried promises of improvement and the introduction of reforms where needed. The victorious must now prove that their goals are indeed what were promised, serving every Lebanese under their jurisdiction.”

The Beirutis’ List claimed victory, sweeping all 24 seats in the Beirut Municipal Council, while the Beirut Madinati List, which represents the Lebanese civil society, failed to win a single seat, said the London-based Pan-Arab paper Al Quds Al Arabi.

“Beirut Madinati List tried to challenge political alignments and traditional sectarianism and instead relied on the civil protest movement, which has been active since last summer. The Lebanese people sympathised with the Beirut Madinati List in light of municipal crises ... but its failure to achieve any breakthrough against the other parties is evidence of the great political deadlock ...”