Rebels leave hideouts to lay down arms

Sana'a: Al Houthi rebels have descended from the mountainous hideouts to lay down weapons and return home, according to a Qatar-brokered agreement to end the five-month war between them and the army, said mediators yesterday.

"The areas from which the rebels have started to descend are in the districts of Majaz, Baqem, and Qataber but they did not surrender their weapons yet," said Yasser Al Awadi, spokesman of the political committee in charge of supervising the implementation of the agreement.

Al Houthi rebels did not go back to their houses, as stipulated by the agreement, but headed to Qataber district, the main stronghold where their leader Abdul Malek Al Houthi is based, according to Al Awadi.

"But we expect that all those would return to their houses after they [have surrendered] their weapons [yesterday]," Al Awadi said in a statement sent to the local media yesterday.

The army has taken over the rebel hideouts in the three districts.

Al Awadi confirmed that the ceasefire was still in effect with some exceptions, which he described as "individual violations by some elements but such small violations would not affect the efforts of the ceasefire and getting life back to normal in the province of Sa'ada".

Evacuation

The nine-member political committee on Wednesday moved from Sa'ada city to the districts of Majaz, Qataber and Manbah "to make sure that the rebels have descended from mountains in implementation of the first stage of the agreement", said the committee's spokesman.

Some 95 per cent of the areas were evacuated by the armed rebels, he said.

Implementation of the second stage, scheduled to start yesterday, will start by going to Al Safra, Sahar, and Cotaf districts, "to make sure that the rebels have evacuated their positions and handed them to troops in addition to laying down their weapons."

Al Houthi denied any differences among his followers in terms of implementation of the agreement.

"I would like to confirm that our followers and supporters did not, and would not, obstruct the supervising committee and we did not set any new condition," said Al Houthi in statements sent to the media from Sa'ada.

"With regard to some media reports on differences between our leaders, I would like to confirm that there is no difference and we are ready to implement the agreement away from interference ... by some army leaders or tribal chiefs who attempt to thwart it," Al Houthi said.

"The agreement's steps are being implemented smoothly, specially in light of the continuous follow-up by President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and also the role being played by our brothers in Qatar who exert great efforts for implementing the agreement," said Al Awadi.

The next step will be compensation for the victims and reconstruction work for damaged areas, he said.

Success in implementing the agreement will be proved once all Al Houthi rebels have surrendered weapons to the committees in charge in the nine centres, he added.

The Yemen committee comprised nine members from the parliament representing the opposition, ruling parties and independents. The Qatari committee comprised three advisors to Emir Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Reconstruction

Qatar had announced the establishment of a fund for reconstruction of the war-torn areas in Sa'ada and it also sought support from other Gulf countries.

The Yemen government announced a similar fund for reconstruction.

The agreement to end the rebellion in Yemen includes a stipulation that Al Houthi and his followers comply with the republican system, constitution and laws, an end to rebellion and implementation of general amnesty and release of all detainees except those on trial.

It also requires implementation of the law and order system of the country in the area; surrender of medium-sized weapons and ammunition; and respect of the freedom of opinion and expression, including the right to establish a political party according to the constitution and laws in effect.

According to the agreement, Al Houthi, Yahya Al Houthi, Abdul Kareem Al Houthi and Abdullah Al Ruzami should arrive in Qatar without any political or media activities hostile to Yemen and should not leave Qatar except with approval.

The Yemen government is also to reconstruct the war-torn areas and Qatar would contribute to the reconstruction fund, according to the agreement.