Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2014 12:14:08 +0200
Yemen: Houthis push to control oil-rich province
Source warns of violent clashes breaking out in home of the country's main
oil-export pipeline.
Written by : <http://www.aawsat.net/author/arafat-madabish> Arafat Madabish
on : Sunday, 5 Oct, 2014
Sana'a, Asharq Al-Awsat-Yemen's rebel militias are closing in on the
oil-rich Marib province, a source told Asharq Al-Awsat, as uncertainty
continues to shroud the country's political scene.
Houthi militants launched on Friday a military campaign to seize control of
oil and electricity facilities in the Marib province, 75 miles (120
kilometers) east of the capital Sana'a, as part of the group's efforts to
boost its control of the country's natural resources, a political source who
spoke on the condition of anonymity told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Militants loyal to Shi'ite leader Abdel Malik Al-Houthi have remained in
full control of state buildings after almost two weeks of storming the
Yemeni capital.
It was reported that dozens of Houthi rebels have been deployed recently
near the country's key oil and electricity facilities, including the
Ministry of Oil and Minerals, Masila Petroleum Exploration and Production
Company and Yemen Oil and Gas Corporation, among others.
Controlling oil and electricity resources in Yemen will give a boost to the
group that is almost in full control of all public funds, he said.
The source warned of violent clashes breaking out in the province which is
home to the country's main oil-export pipeline.
On Thursday, Houthi rebels ordered the Ministry of Finance to suspend all
public payments except salaries to government workers in a step they said
was aimed at protecting government funds.
The Shi'ite movement has also banned the Ministry of Civil Service and
Insurance from making any decisions regarding employment until a new
government is formed under an UN-brokered deal, the source said.
Meanwhile, no progress has been made in government formation talks between
President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and Houthis, a source said.
"Houthis want almost entirely to control government formation, a process
which is supposed to be agreed by all parties," a government source who
spoke on the condition of anonymity told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The official also warned that "Houthis will fail to honour their agreement
with the UN Envoy to Yemen Jamal Benomar to withdraw from Sana'a before Eid
Al-Adha holiday."
Last month, Yemen's central government and Houthis signed a deal under the
aegis of the UN to put an end to the crisis that has engulfed the country.
The terms of the agreement included forming a new cabinet, reversing a
controversial fuel subsidy cut and allowing Shi'ite rebels wider
participation in the government.
<http://www.aawsat.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/yemen-houthi.jpg> Member
of the Shi'ite Muslim Houthi movement mans a machine gun during a patrol in
Sana'a. (Reuters)
Member of the Shi'ite Muslim Houthi movement mans a machine gun during a
patrol in Sanaa. (Reuters)
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