Yemen: Al Houthis revoke membership of 44 MPs

Cairo: A parliament controlled by Yemen’s Al Houthi rebels in the capital Sana’a has announced revoking the membership of 44 lawmakers, accusing them of supporting the legitime Saudi-backed government.

The revocations were adopted at a vote session held Saturday in which the 44 were accused of “following in the footsteps of aggression”, a reference to a Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen against Al Houthis.

The Houthi-controlled Saba news agency reported that the revocations were backed by majority of votes, and published a list naming the 44 lawmakers.

Last year and February of this year, a Sana’a-based state security ordered the revocation of the 44 MPs’ membership.

Yemen has been devastated by a war that erupted after the Iran-aligned Houthi militia toppled the legitimate government and seized swathes of the impoverished country including Sana’a in late 2014.

In March 2015, the Saudi-led Arab alliance intervened in Yemen in response to a request from its government.

Last month, Saudi Arabia proposed a peace initiative for Yemen, including a countryside ceasefire. The plan was not accepted by Al Houthis, who continued their attacks on neighbouring Saudi Arabia.