‘Iran backs political reconciliation in Yemen’

TEHRAN, Sep. 21 (MNA) – Iran’s deputy-FM for Arab and African Affairs has said the Islamic Republic would welcome political reconciliation in Yemen which ensures the rights of the people and all its domestic parties. Regarding recent developments in Yemen Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said “the people and the government of Yemen will not allow the Takfiri terrorists to deviate people’s demands and political reconciliation toward extremism and violence.” Abdollahian added that “Iran will support the independent, united, stable and safe Yemen which proceeds in the direction of development and commitment to all parties.” Following clashes between Houthi rebels and Yemeni army forces, many rebels were killed or wounded. With the intensification of the conflicts on September 18, radio and televising broadcasts were cut off for hours. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Yemenis responded positively to the invitation of the Organizing Committee of the Youth Revolution and held the Friday Prayers on a street to Sana’s airport in al-Jaraf neighborhood, with the army’s helicopters flying over them. The protesters demanded that Yemen President, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, respond quickly to the demands of the revolutionaries and not to ignore them. In the past several weeks, Shia Houthi fighters have cut off the main road leading to Yemen’s main airport, as fighting between the rebels and the country’s military spreads to areas surrounding the capital, Sana’a. They demand for a stop to financial and administrative corruption, the government's removal, and the resumption of fuel subsidies.